Chinatown

No overhead banner announces your arrival in Chinatown. Still, when you drive down Spring Mountain Road immediately west of the Las Vegas Strip, you’ll know you’re there: The six-lane, 3-mile stretch of Tang Dynasty-style architecture and strip malls bearing Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese names is a destination for locals and visitors alike. This can’t-miss concentration of Asian shops, spas and eateries is central to a vibrant residential community that includes popular casinos and entertainment venues.

Situated along Interstate 15, the Chinatown neighborhood attracts homeowners looking for the benefits of urban living. Single-family ranch-style homes, mobile homes, condos and town houses provide a welcome variety of dwellings to suit budgets and lifestyles. Bus lines and sidewalks make getting to The Strip and downtown convenient and easy, perfect for the city’s thousands of service and hospitality workers. In gated Spring Oaks, expect to pay around $260,000 for a two-bedroom, 1,000-square-foot condo with a covered patio and attached garage. Amenities include a pool and exercise room. Within walking distance of Chinatown, Twain Manor town houses put casinos and restaurants just minutes from your door. A two-bedroom, 1,200-square-foot unit with vinyl flooring and pool access sells for around $240,000.

Pleasant Valley Mobile Home Community is an option for buyers seeking one-story living and is especially good for seasonal housing. Many residents live there only for part of the year. Patios and decks make the most of Nevada’s fantastic climate. Tall palms and manicured grass add to this gated community’s appeal. Likewise, gated El Dorado Estates offers new and used factory-built homes for sale and rent. Residents here enjoy a pool, tennis courts and library, while pet owners love the dog park. On-site RV storage makes getaways easy. If you’d rather not live in a homeowners’ association, however, you’re in luck: Perpendicular streets with clusters of single-family homes put the businesses of Spring Mountain Road within a block or two. A 1960s ranch-style home with a carport and spacious lot sells for between $250,000 and $325,000. You might have terrific views of the city and mountains from any of these dwellings.

For outdoor recreation, residents head to Charlie Frias Park. Especially popular among its 32 acres are lighted multi-use fields beloved for soccer matches and football games that go well into the night. Kids of all ages enjoy the two covered playgrounds and splash pad, while dog lovers can choose from three runs to allow their pups to scamper safely off-leash. You can also challenge your neighbors to hoops or take a solo stroll on the track. Grassy areas invite games of Frisbee or catch.

Students may attend public schools in the Clark County School District, Including Rex Bell Elementary and James Cashman Middle. Ed W. Clark High, alma mater of talk host Jimmy Kimmel, offers a Navy Junior ROTC and three magnet programs in finance, math/science and teacher education.

Since 1996, Chinatown Plaza has been a destination shopping center. Visit Noodle Pot for a quick meal of savory soups like beef noodle and wonton. Order a custom cake for your family celebration or pick up a unique sweet at Diamond Bakery, where locals exclaim over the steamed barbecue pork buns and custard buns. You can also find boba tea, pho, Japanese street food and other favorites among the more than 20 strip malls along Spring Mountain Road.

For entertainment, locals head to Gold Coast Casino. Park yourself at the table games, try your luck at slots or enjoy a night of competitive bowling. Plan to see Penn and Teller at the Rio All-Suite Hotel and Casino, where the duo entertains audiences with magic and comedy. Catch a live band at Sand Dollar Lounge, a hangout where locals swear by the friendly bartenders. When you’re ready to venture out of the neighborhood, head to The Strip or jump on Interstate 15, which opens up the Las Vegas Valley.

Written By

Carla Davis

Photography Contributed By

Jay Sanchez

Video By

Celeste Thoms