The BIG ASS List

The Big Ass List of Things to Do, Places to Eat, and Places to Go See, Go Shop, Go Experience 

Why This Exists… 

I’ve been making SOPs for just about everything at work lately, so making one for random stuff in Vegas seems like the obvious response, really.

Last Updated: 03/20/25

Note: Anything in Bold is just personal opinion, but I do enjoy personally. 

General POIs / Touristy Places

Area 15 – Art Exhibit + Bar Lounge Place + a bunch of other things. Definitely a fun interactive time, but make sure to buy tickets to things you want to go to.

Address: 3215 S Rancho Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89102

Bellagio Conservatory – Always a mainstay and always a perpetual photo-zone. It’s a jungle theme currently.

Address: Inside the Bellagio Hotel & Casino, next to the lobby. 

Container Park – Go during the day / early evening (like around sunset). Downtown Vegas in general becomes SUPER ghetto at night if you wander too far outside the domain of Fremont Street.

Address: 707 E Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101

Downtown Summerlin – It’s an outdoor mall with some exciting lunch / wine places. The Las Vegas Ballpark and the Golden Knights Practice Arena is there, too. Watch an Aviators (Baseball team) game from the bar or buy merch from our team(s). A Daiso opened up REALLY recently, too.

Address: 1980 Festival Plaza Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89135

Fashion Show Mall – Shopping… a lot of shopping. Also has a fashion walk near the Apple store.

Address: 3200 Las Vegas Blvd S Ste. 600, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Fremont Street Downtown Experience – Downtown Las Vegas is fun to look at once; there’s the Fremont Street Experience as well as the “Godzilla Zipline”. Has some pubs and bars with some interesting themes.

Address: 425 E Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101

High Roller (and the LINQ Promenade) – It’s the London Eye, but in Vegas. $35+ depending on day or night ride. 30 minutes = 1 cycle. Pods fit up to 50 people, and some of the pods have bars. / The LINQ Promenade is basically an alleyway of food, shopping, and entertainment. Also lots of fun.

Address: 3545 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Hoover Dam – Not much to say, it’s the Hoover Dam. It’s… not really as exciting as it seems.

Address: Nevada 89005

Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit Las Vegas – It’s actually pretty cool for a projection exhibit. It’s about half an hour.

Address: 3720 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89158

Note: Might have to purchase tickets online; I’m not entirely sure anymore. 

(The) Las Vegas Strip – This one’s a gimme, really. Go wander around the strip, just don’t take photos with the people that are bartering there unless you want to get ripped off. Some sights to see (on and inside the strip:

- The Bellagio Water Show - (every 30 minutes during the day, every 15 minutes at night)

- Coca-Cola World / Hershey World.

- MGM Park.

- Mirage Volcano (before it shuts down forever; starts at 8pm nightly until 11).

- NYNY Roller Coaster – $25 for single ride.

- Secret Garden @ Mirage – It’s basically a mini-zoo.

- Shark Reef ($30-ish. It’s about an hour and you can touch stingrays.)

- The Strat – $20 elevator ride and rides are $20 or so at the top. 

- Your local casino’s pool.

Address: Las Vegas Strip, lol.

(The) Mob Museum – It’s mob history from around the country, but also a lot from here. Thanks to Lake Mead, we have more and more skeletal remains happening.

Address: 300 Stewart Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89101

Neon Sign Museum – It’s Las Vegas history; definitely worth a visit if you want to see the past giant signs that dotted the Vegas Strip.

Address: 770 Las Vegas Blvd N, Las Vegas, NV 89101

Planet 13 – Large Weed Place… Buy weed, it’s legal. Also an interesting shop to visit just once… for curiosity.

Address: 2548 W Desert Inn Rd Suite 100, Las Vegas, NV 89109

Red Rock Canyon – Lots of hiking, go early / later in the evening to avoid the blistering heat. You can also just take a drive along the scenic loop and has some solid photography locations. If you want to hiking Calico Hills is nice and has rolling slopes, the Ice Box is somewhat an actual hike / climb, but also nice views. There should be a “hiking path map” that shows the difficulties. 

Address: 1000 Scenic Loop Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89161

Shanghai Plaza – It’s about as LA as you’re going to get; even mimics the crap parking situation.

Address: 4284 Spring Mountain Rd #4258, Las Vegas, NV 89102

- Has 85 C Bakery in the plaza (if you’re in to that)

- A MINISO, the Chinese version of MUJI. (It tries to be Japanese, lol.)

- Revolving sushi restaurant.

- Korean-like cosmetics shop.

- Somisomi & Sul & Beans & Cruncheese (“LA shop” staples).

- Shanghai Taste (best XLB place you’ll get without having to pay for DTF prices).

- A manga café – I’m tempted to believe it’s just a small shop though.

- Restaurants, lots and lots of them.

Sin City Smash – Want to just break things for half an hour or an hour or throw axes / throwing stars or what have you to your choice of music? This is the place to go. Tell them Joe says hi, haha.

Address: 6623 S Las Vegas Blvd Suite 139, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Town Square – Outdoor mall-plaza place that’s similar to Downtown Summerlin. Great place to walk around and shop, eat, and do all the things that you would normally do in a mall, but outside like you’re at Rodeo Drive.

Address: 6623 S Las Vegas Blvd Suite 139, Las Vegas, NV 89119

Venetian Gondola Rides - $39 per person, also a very touristy thing to do. Can go inside or outside. =)
Address: Inside the Venetian

Cirque Shows, as Best Explained by a Concierge Friend 

For cirque shows, this is my shortened ver. of what I tell my guests:

- KA: martial arts based w/ storyline. good if you like action movies or have teenagers.

- O: water based acrobatics. considered the best, but you're gonna drop like. $180 pp for somewhat decent seats. better seats are $200+.

- Beatles Love: nostalgic, happy go lucky vibes. 

- Mad Apple: half acrobatic, half comedy. 18+. pacing kinda weird but not bad.

- MJ One: party like atmosphere w/ somber moments inbetween. family friendly.

- Mystere: original cirque. weird as fuck. giant sumo baby and snail.

Restaurants 

8oz Korean Steak House – It’s ala carte KBBQ. It’s really good if you’re not trying to go the AYCE route.

Address: 4545 Spring Mountain Rd Ste B105 Las Vegas, NV 89102

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/8oz-korean-steak-house-las-vegas-2

Note: Gets SUPER busy, try to call and make a reservation if you can. 

888 Korean BBQ – One of the many AYCE kbbq places, but this (and Hobak) are probably the two contenders for “high-tier” top. – In Chinatown Plaza.

Address: 4215 Spring Mountain Rd B107 Las Vegas, NV 89102

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/888-korean-bbq-las-vegas-2

Asian BBQ & Noodle – This is the best Chinese lunch food in town; it’s very “Chinese rustic”, if that makes any sense. Best Roast Duck, Char Siu, and Crispy Skin Pork in Vegas. No contest. - Closed on Fridays

Address: 3400 S Jones Blvd Ste 5C Las Vegas, NV 89146

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/asian-bbq-and-noodle-las-vegas

Note: CASH ONLY. Yes, it’s been there that long… they still don’t accept cards. Not open on Friday.

Buddy V’s Ristorante – My friend says this is a very solid Italian place, and while I haven’t tried it. I’m willing to believe him since he’s a bit of  a picky eater.

Address: Inside Venetian Hotel & Casino

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/buddy-vs-ristorante-las-vegas-3

Note: Would recommend checking to see if you need a reservation.

Daeho – This is a SF transplant. – Honestly, one of the best soup places. Their yukhoe is also the best in town.

Address: 2580 S Decatur Blvd. Ste 5 Las Vegas, NV 89102

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/daeho-kalbijim-and-beef-soup-las-vegas-las-vegas 

Ding Tai Fung – Just because… it’s DTF. It’s also more expensive than normal DTF; so prepare yourself if you go. Reservations do exist, for night. Gets busy around 11:30-noon, too… surprising, cause it’s so much more expensive than like California DTFs… or really any other DTF in the world.

Address: Inside ARIA Hotel & Casino

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/din-tai-fung-las-vegas-2

Echo & Rig – Steakhouse & Butcher. Honestly, my favorite steakhouse-type restaurant. Far off the strip.

Address: 440 S Rampart Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89145

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/echo-and-rig-las-vegas

Grape Street Café & Wine Bar – Italian Wine Café / Bar. Good atmosphere and nice selection. Staff is iffy, recent reviews say that continues. It’s a great place otherwise. – In Downtown Summerlin.

Address: 2120 Festival Plaza Dr Ste 160 Las Vegas, NV 89135

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/grape-street-cafe-and-wine-bar-las-vegas

Herbs & Rye – Steakhouse, one of the best in the area. Also has a nice selection of drinks, really.

Address: 3713 W Sahara Ave Las Vegas, NV 89102

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/herbs-and-rye-las-vegas

Jong-Ro Chicken – Only place that will fry an entire chicken. Classic Korean Fried Chicken style.

Address: 5865 Spring Mountain Rd Ste 140 Las Vegas, NV 89146

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jong-ro-chicken-las-vegas-3

Kabuto – A solid bar for an omakase-like sushi experience. Your ideals for sushi will be transformed in this place.

Address: 5865 Spring Mountain Rd Ste 140 Las Vegas, NV 89146

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/jong-ro-chicken-las-vegas-3

Note: Reservations required.

Noodle Pot – Most authentic Taiwanese Beef Noodle Soup you’ll find in Las Vegas. – In Chinatown.
Address: 4215 Spring Mountain Rd Ste B112 Las Vegas, NV 89102
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/noodle-pot-las-vegas

Nora’s Italian Cuisine – Another solid option for Italian; lots of choice on the menu and they’re all a good option, really. Ideal for medium parties (like 4-8) that you want to have a group setting about.

Address: 5780 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/noras-italian-cuisine-las-vegas-3

Pubic School 702 – Gastropub Bar place. Good food, lots of drinks, there for basically a good time.
Address: 1850 Festival Plaza Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89135
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/public-school-702-las-vegas 

Rainbow Kitchen – It’s Dim Sum. Order some things from their menu as well like roast duck and crispy pork; it’s also really good. Its aunties approved.

Address: 7537 S Rainbow Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89139

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rainbow-kitchen-las-vegas

Shanghai Taste – Best XLB place in Vegas that isn’t Ding Tai Fung. 

Address: 4266 Spring Mountain Rd Ste 104 Las Vegas, NV 89102

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/shanghai-taste-las-vegas

Shigotonin – My go-to date location, because if the date sucks at least the food was good. Sushi tapas place. All the food is extremely good and equally expensive, but the price matches the quality.
Address: 5845 Spring Mountain Rd Unit A7 Las Vegas, NV 89146
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/shigotonin-las-vegas

Ssoju [CLOSED] – Solid Korean “Barstaurant”. Go there for a good time.

Address: 3620 S Jones Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89103

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/ssoju-korean-pub-no-title

Tora Katsu & Curry – Their Katsu has a nice ‘clean’ taste when you bite into their katsu foodstuff. You can’t really go wrong when that’s the case.

Address: 5808 Spring Mountain Rd Ste 108 Las Vegas, NV 89146

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tora-katsu-and-curry-no-title 

Trattoria Nakamura-Ya – This place used to have the best bread rolls; the entire Italian/Japanese fusion menu is amazing; don’t go if you’re trying to find food to be filling.

Address: 5040 W Spring Mountain Rd Ste 5 Las Vegas, NV 89146

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/trattoria-nakamura-ya-las-vegas

Viet Noodle Bar – In college we had Pho So 1. In the workforce we have Viet Noodle Bar. Their broth is consistent and the restaurant just radiates Vietnam, really.

Address: 5288 Spring Mountain Rd Las Vegas, NV 89146

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/viet-noodle-bar-las-vegas 

ZEN Curry – Solid Japanese Curry place; if you want to eat curry this is where you go.

Address: Same plaza as Trattoria Nakamura-Ya.

Yelp: 

Boba / Cafes / Drinks (Non-Alcoholic) 

Airoma Cafe – This is an LA transplant – Best Vietnamese coffee in the West Coast. Other places really can’t compare. Milk Coffee or Banana Coffee are just addicting.

Address: 5845 Spring Mountain Rd Ste 120 Las Vegas, NV 89146

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/airoma-cafe-las-vegas 

Brew Tea Bar – Unironically, it’s the Best boba milk tea place all-around in town; original location’s #1 rated shop in the states.
Original Location – 7380 S Rainbow Blvd Ste 101 Las Vegas, NV 89139
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/brew-tea-bar-las-vegas-4

Near UNLV Campus – 4700 S Maryland Pkwy Ste 138 Las Vegas, NV 89119
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/brew-tea-bar-las-vegas-6

Hendertucky – 9480 S Eastern Ave Ste 160 Las Vegas, NV 89123 / (I doubt you’ll go there)
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/brew-tea-bar-las-vegas-13

Note: Use my phone number, use my stars, get yourselves free drinks. Please. Do it. I have a lot. I won’t stop you.

Chi Cha San Chen - This is a LA transplant. – Taiwanese Michelin-starred fruit tea. It’s pretty pricey, but you’re paying for quality and not quantity at that point.

Address: 5410 W Spring Mountain Rd Las Vegas, NV 89146

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/chicha-san-chen-las-vegas-2 

China Fresh Tea [CLOSED] – Their fruit teas are the best; the tea standards in general in this place are higher than a lot of other places… basically, their tea is good.

Address: 3400 S Jones Blvd Ste 20 Las Vegas, NV 89146

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/china-fresh-tea-las-vegas 

Feng Cha [CLOSED] – I go there mainly for fruit teas. Standard fare, that plaza is solid.

Address: 5845 Spring Mountain Rd Las Vegas, NV 89146

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/feng-cha-teahouse-las-vegas-2 

Landmark Tea – Mangoes on mangoes on mangoes.

Address: 4725 W Spring Mountain Rd Las Vegas, NV 89102

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/landmark-tea-las-vegas 

Matcha Café Maiko – Hawaiian matcha place, it’s alright, but really good if you like matcha.

Address: 3400 S Jones Blvd Ste 3 Las Vegas, NV 89146

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/matcha-cafe-maiko-las-vegas

The Alley – A Korean transplant bubble tea. Somewhat made famous in the states by a kdrama sighting. Located on the strip, in the Palazzo.

Address: PALAZZO Hotel & Casino, 3325 S Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas, NV 89109

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-alley-las-vegas

Sunright – This is a LA transplant. – Another LA transplant, but they do have the best slushes and yakult drinks in my opinion.
Address: 4545 Spring Mountain Rd Ste 103 Las Vegas, NV 89103
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sunright-tea-studio-chinatown-las-vegas-5 

Tiger Sugar – This is a LA transplant. – Another LA transplant. It's alright.

Address: 5150 Spring Mountain Rd Ste 10 Las Vegas, NV 89146

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/tiger-sugar-las-vegas

Desserts / Snacks / Bars and Breweries 

Gäbi Coffee & Bakery – There’s a greenhouse in the building; it’s a unique place to sit in. Go like early afternoon for best seating; during night-time it gets crowded.

Address: 5808 Spring Mountain Rd Ste 104 Las Vegas, NV 89146

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/g%C3%A4bi-coffee-and-bakery-las-vegas-2

Hui Lau Shan – It’s a dessert cafe place that mainly serves mango-esque desserts. Really hits the spot if you’re craving mango.

Address: 5115 Spring Mountain Rd Fl 2 Las Vegas, NV 89146

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/hui-lau-shan-las-vegas 

La Luna Tea and Dessert Bar – They have a sponge cake that’s shaped like a puppers. That is all. Afternoon tea is fun here, so is post dinner dessert. 

Address: 7960 South Rainbow Blvd Ste 8000F, Las Vegas, NV 89139 

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/la-luna-tea-and-dessert-bar-las-vegas

SomiSomi – LA transplant shop. Ice Cream and Fish bread. “Bbong”. – In Shanghai Plaza.

Address: 4284 Spring Mountain Rd #D104, Las Vegas, NV 89102

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/somisomi-las-vegas-4

Sul & Beans – Also LA transplant shop. Specializes in shaved ice. – In Shanghai Plaza. 

Address: 4284 Spring Mountain Rd Ste 104 Las Vegas, NV 89102

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sul-and-beans-las-vegas

Sweet Mong – It’s a dessert shop that’s very “Korean cafe” inspired. Their bingsoo is awesome and their crepes are nice.

Address: 5980 W Spring Mountain Rd Ste 6C Las Vegas, NV 89146
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sweet-mong-las-vegas-3 

Sweets Raku [CLOSED] – The gold standard for dessert places; it’s really just art on a plate. Night time parking is a bit of a pain point in the plaza, turnover in the place is fairly quick though, so there’s that.

Address: 5040 W Spring Mountain Rd Ste. 3 Las Vegas, NV 89146

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/sweets-raku-las-vegas

Taps & Barrels – New-age Brewhouse. Great atmosphere, and you pour for yourself. Kind of pricy if it's not Happy Hour though.

Address: 6111 S. Buffalo Dr. Ste. 110 Las Vegas, NV 89147

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/taps-and-barrels-las-vegas