60°F
weather icon Cloudy

Popular Vegas Chinese restaurant opens 5th location, first in a casino

Updated November 25, 2024 - 3:36 pm

China Mama, the popular family-owned group of Chinese restaurants, is opening its fifth location Dec. 6 at Palace Station. The opening, but not the specific date, had previously been announced in August.

The Palace Station restaurant is the first for China Mama in a casino. It replaces Boathouse Asian Eatery, which closed on Sept. 1.

On the menu

Executive chef Bing Chou leads the kitchen, preparing such signature dishes as mapo doufu, sliced fish fillet with pickled mustard greens, dry pepper chicken, crisp pork with Mama special sauce, and crisp beef. The chef is also sending out specials such as prawns in salted egg yolk sauce, taro duck, pork joint stewed with rock sugar and braised pork belly with abalone.

Elsewhere, the menu runs to housemade potstickers and other dumplings, steamed pork buns, soups, Mama fried rice, Mama chow mein, and a host of shrimp, fish, chicken, duck, pork, lamb, beef and vegetarian options. Tradition and luxury combine for dishes such as stewed bird’s nest with young coconut, braised sea cucumber, braised dried abalone and live seafood dishes.

Mama history

The original China Mama on South Jones Boulevard closed after an early morning fire in late March 2023. In May 2023, China Mama Express, a takeout-only spot, debuted on South Rainbow Boulevard. About a month later, the sit-down China Mama reopened, moving to Shanghai Plaza in Chinatown, in the same center as ShangHai Taste.

Spring by China Mama, a higher-end restaurant showcasing Chinese pancakes assembled tableside with various fillings and condiments, debuted in May on Paradise Road, in the same center as Ferraro’s Ristorante. Hao Chi by China Mama, a bun, dumpling and noodle spot, launched very quietly in early November on West Charleston Boulevard near South Decatur Boulevard.

China Mama in Palace Station opens at 5 p.m. Dec. 6, then daily at 11 a.m. Visit palacestation.com.

Contact Johnathan L. Wright at jwright@reviewjournal.com. Follow @JLWTaste on Instagram.

This story has been updated to reflect that a fourth China Mama location opened in early November, making the Palace Station location the fifth.

THE LATEST
 
Randy’s Donuts opens its 4th shop in Las Vegas

The new store features a signature mix of more than 60 doughnut varieties, plus new breakfast items and a drive-thru.

Top 10 things to do in Las Vegas this week

Singer Jennifer Hudson, Christmas movies and dancer Derek Hough lead this week’s entertainment lineup in Las Vegas.

1st look inside new downtown bar from chef James Trees

The latest project from the owner of Esther’s Kitchen features cocktail and snack pairings, nods to street art and a determination to make happy hour cool again.

How Ethel M Chocolates got its start in Henderson

Chocolatier Forrest Mars came out to Las Vegas to retire, but after learning about Nevada’s unique liquor laws, he decided to start a new brand instead.

 
Vegas-only dishes and more on the menu at new Strip steakhouse

Consider the caviar Twinkie. What is essentially a buttery cornbread forms the Twinkie cake; the yuzu crème fraîche stands in for vanilla cream filling. The caviar, of course, is wholly Vegas.