Best Chinese Restaurants In Las Vegas Open On Christmas
Sometimes, the warmth of moo shu pork, salty chow mein and fluffy dumplings are all you need on a cold Christmas day.
The connection between Chinese restaurants and Christmas has been a staple for many families even before the invention of colored television. Specially, this is a tradition in many Jewish-American households. But where did this tradition of Chinese food and St. Nick start? And why is it a major tradition for people who practice Judaism?
Well, according to an article from the New York Times published in 1934, a man named Eng Shee Chuck brought chow mein to a Jewish children’s home in Newark, New Jersey on Christmas day. This was one of the first written records of this tradition.
An article from NPR also explored the connection between Chinese and Jewish culture and history in America.
“Honestly. The Chinese restaurant was a safe haven for American Jews who felt like outsiders on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day,” Rabbi Joshua Plaut said in an NPR interview. “If you go to a Chinese restaurant, you become an insider. You can celebrate somebody else’s birthday and yet be amongst friends and family and members of the tribe, thereby the outsider on Christmas becomes the insider.”
It’s quite beautiful to see the connection of American culture bringing two groups together in such a fun and celebratory way. And it’s quite remarkable to see other cultures creating traditions in the fabric of America. For example, many Muslim people go to iHop during Eid al-Fir, which is a major holiday in the religion that marks the end of Ramadan.
The other amazing thing is that Las Vegas perfectly represents the beautiful diversity and intensity of American culture, economics and entertainment. Through tradition, everyone innovates and adapts to create something great. But, perhaps this is another reason why Chinese restaurants have become a staple in many neighborhoods across America: There is still a sense of comfort and nostalgia through the glossy-pictured menus and clamoring of utensils hitting against the steel Woks.
In Las Vegas, we have a rainbow array of options for the best Xiao Long Bao, the most delectable Shanghai Beef Noodle Soup, and the explosively flavored duck dishes. See the list below for your fix of the best Chinese food that you can get during Christmas.
Top 10 Chinese Restaurants In Las Vegas Open On Christmas
- Ping Pang Pong: We adore Ping Pang Pong inside the Gold Coast Hotel & Casino. The food is a hidden gem, and it’s slightly off the beaten path from Chinatown. We recommend the Soft Shell Crab with Rice Paper, the Anchovy and Chicken Fried Rice, the Sausage Duck Confit Rice, King du Pork Chops and Gobo Beef. All of these dishes are the perfect blend of salty, umami, funky and pure delicious.
- ShangHai Taste: Located inside of Shanghai Plaze on Spring Moutain, this restaurant is in the central heart of Chinatown. It’s a staple in the community, and it’s been awarded many accolades in the culinary community. If you go then you must try the soup dumplings. These dumplings are famous for its explosive flavor and rich broth. The scallion pancakes are crispy yet soft on the inside. The duck dishes are also a must-try. The meat is always tender and it’s seasoned to perfection without haveing too gamey of a flavor.
- New Asian BBQ: If you’re craving succulent bbq dishes and amazing wontons then you need to give New Asian BBQ a try. Located at 5150 Spring Mountain Rd ste#16, Las Vegas, NV 89146, they have dim sum service and a plethora of dish options. Some of our favorites include the Cantonese-style chicken with soy sauce, the wontons with chili sauce, and the shrimp in lobster sauce. It’s a divine place to eat.
- Dong Ting Chun Restaurant: This place is another stellar spot for authentic Chinese food. The address for Dong Ting Chun is 4850 W Flamingo Rd Unit 34-35, Las Vegas, NV 89103. We recommend the hand-made pumpkin pies, shrimp chop suey and beautifully sticky king pao combination dish.
- Capital Seafood Restaurant: Go big or go home is our motto with Capital Seafood. We indulged on the lobster cooked with black bean sauce, and it was heaven on a plate. The address for Capital Seafood Restaurant is 4215 W Spring Mountain Rd # B202, Las Vegas, NV 89102.
- Palette Tea Lounge & Dim Sum: Another cozy spot nestled in the heart of Chinatown, Palette Tea and Lounge is a perfect place to getaway on Christmas. The dishes are family style (as most places on this list are). We recommend the radish cake with XO sauce, crispy typhoon shrimp dumplings, and Unagi Sticky Rice. The Supreme Soy Tiger Prawns and Korubuta Pork Belly also was mouth-watering. The address is 4601 Spring Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103.
- Din Tai Fung: Perhaps this is the most controversial on our list, and it’s because some people love it or absolutely hate it. Din Tai Fung is inside of The Aria. The famous dumpling-making station is where you see their special dumpling chefs pull strings of sticky dough and mold them into a beautiful dumpling. The vibes are immaculate, and the interior elevates your experience into fine dining. The cucumber salad is everyone’s favorite, the crispy rice cakes were delectable, and the black tea with sea salt cream was surprisingly delicious.
- Xiao Long Dumplings: This is another famous spot in Las Vegas. Xiao Long Dumplings is located in the famous Chinatown Plaze that jam packs tons of delicious eateries and activities. Xiao Long is loved by many locals and tourists. The address is 4275 Spring Mountain Rd #D101, Las Vegas, NV 89102. We think you need to try the truffle fried rice, the crab and pork soup dumplings and the first chicken in chili pepper. But, all of the soup dumplings are worth trying at Xiao Long. So don’t have a timid palette when you try this spot!
- Yunnan Tasty Garden: Located in the Pacific Asian Plaza at 5115 Spring Mountain Rd suite 103-105, Las Vegas, NV 89146, this is a consistent and very great eatery to indulge in your cravings. The must-try options are the Chonqing spicy fried chicken, the Dan Dan noodles, and the spiced pork ribs with chili and garlic.
- China Mama: This gem is close to many other locations mentioned before. China Mama is located inside of Shanghai Plaza where ShanHai Taste is located. If you’re craving amazing, flavorful, crispy and finger-licking good Chinese food then you need to come here. One of our favorite dishes to order is the salted egg yolk with fried prawns. Wow. The salty and umami flavor of the cured egg yolk pairs perfect with the fried shrimp. The dry pepper chicken is also fried to golden perfection and topped with chopped chili peppers that gives a great kick to the dish.
Santa Shines In These 5 Holiday Movie Classics
When it comes to St. Nick, I’ve been a fan ever since I was a kid. He’s a holiday superhero! That’s why I love watching a good Santa movie at Christmas time. Santa movies have given us everything from heartwarming tales and even raunchy comedies. Some of these movies hit just right and become holiday classics, while others, wouldn’t even make it on the Hallmark channel. So let’s stick to the good stuff here. The ones that make you laugh, and hit you right in the feels.
First up, there’s just something hilarious about watching a regular guy get roped into being Santa and having absolutely no idea what he’s doing. Add in some elves and reindeer who are way too serious about their jobs, and boom, instant holiday movie gold. If you’ve ever wanted to see your dad bumble around trying to do something he’s not prepared for, there’s a movie for that, and it’s The Santa Clause.
Then, you’ve got the Christmas magic of Buddy the Elf. He’s not Santa himself, but he’s basically the spirit of Christmas in oversized tights. You can’t talk about Santa without mentioning how Buddy practically forces Christmas spirit onto everyone, even a grumpy Santa who acts more like he needs a nap than a sleigh ride. He kind of reminds me of my Buddy Booger. He drives you nuts, but you can’t help but love the guy.
Okay so let’s not forget about the classics, though. If you’re tired of the latest CGI movies, an old-school black-and-white movie might just hit the spot. Miracle on 34th Street is it. I used to watch this every year with my mom. She loves it. It’s that Christmas film that reminds you there’s still magic in the world, even if it’s hiding in a courtroom.
And I cant forget about Arthur Christmas! Oh the memories! I must of watched this movie EVERY day when my daughter was little. It’s a movie where Santa’s youngest kid, who looks like he couldn’t organize a sock drawer, goes full hero to deliver a single gift. He brings the kind of dedication we should all bring to holiday shopping.
Of course, not every holiday movie plays by the rules. Sometimes you need a Saint Nick who’s more grumpy than jolly, someone who’s better at downing drinks than handing out gifts. A movie like Bad Santa is perfect for those days when you need a laugh after the kids goes to bed.
My Top 5 Santa Movie Classics:
