Haochi translates to delicious or good eats and the Crispy Eggplant Strips are certainly that. As of January 2026 there are 6 China Mama locations serving up Chinese and Chinese Fusion Foods. I’ve read that each location offers a slightly different menu. So far I’ve made it to three different locations. YES each experience was different. Here is the most different and might not be for everyone because you order on a tablet. (This can be difficult for some people) PRO TIP They are slow on Sundays at Lunch Time. The Server has more time to help you on Sundays at Lunch Time.

Anyways –

We tried three plates. They also came out at various times.

First came out the Kung Pao Chicken (you can order mild, regular with heat, or extra spicy. I ordered regular heat and it was plenty spicy) (Rice is $1. extra)

The chicken is nice and tender. It’s infused with flavors and heat and isn’t too sweet. It really does tastes better than many other kung pao dishes we’ve tried.

A good ten minutes latter the Sizzling Beef in Black Pepper Sauce comes out.

The Beef is nice and tender but tastes more like soy sauce than black pepper.

Then maybe 10 or 15 minutes latter the Crispy Eggplant Strips Arrived.

They should re-name this dish to HAOCHI EGGPLANT because it is INSANELY DELICIOUS!!!!!!!! It’s sweet and spicy and everything wonderful. The eggplant is so creamy and sweet and is surrounded by a thin caramelized crunch. You can mix this with almost any other Chinese Dish to make it taste better. We ate almost 1/2 of the dishes and took the rest home for dinner. The Kung Pao Chicken and the Sizzling Beef in Black Pepper Sauce both re-heated perfect. The Eggplant dish still was amazing tasting but lost the caramelized crunch.

I’d say Haochi by China Mama is Worth a Fork! (if you get the crispy eggplant strips)

Haochi by.China Mama

Wilshire Plaza 5247 W Charleston Blvd Las Vegas NV

702-202-6696

www.HaochibyChinaMama.com

Every THING is subject to change.

With Love Always is a casual Smash Burger and soft frozen Custard Shop with a few locations in Vegas. They offer a very basic menu of burgers, a few sides, and of course custad.

Usually at all locations you will find a long line out the door to get in. We came in the afternoon just for the frozen custard.

There are only a few tables inside and a few outdoor picnic tables.

We ordered and paid at the counter and in reasonable time someone runs our order out to us.

I try a vanilla custard with cherry dip.

I think that it is pretty good. I even like the cherry sauce embellishment over the cherry dip. I think that I am a pretty good eater but for me the only problem is that this dessert is ENORMOUS and sadly I have to throw from the cone down away. It should come in a smaller size.

My husband tries the chocolate cone.

I’d also very large. But is only mildly chocolate flavored so it leaves you yearning for more chocolate.

That was a peak of With Love Always

With Love Always

6441 N Durango Dr Las Vegas NV

www,WithLoveAlways.com

Every THING is subject to change.

IL Toro E La Capra is a Mexican Restaurant with Old World Italian Decor and also offers some Italian Dishes on the menu. This restaurant is located not too far past the strip. On the Sunday of our visit they weren’t using the first floor. We had our choice of using the stairs or taking the elevator. When we arrived we got seated right away. They do offer a long Mexican Menu and also do offer some Italian Dishes. It was pretty crowded and I noticed that nearly everyone was getting the buffet so I thought it was the way to go.

They start us off with complimentary chips, spicy salsa, and bean dip.

The salsa is extra spicy. It doesn’t taste like natural chili in it to me. It tastes like some sort of strong chemical extract that is barely edible.

Here’s most of the buffet.

Here’s most of the food we took.

My favorite bites were the fresh vegetables, the fresh fruit, and the vanilla soft serve but the the corn, rice, and risotto weren’t bad.

I knew better than to try beef from a buffet. My husband said that the worst plates were the beef ones. One was chewy. the other was tough. He thought his chicken was dry. I thought mine wasn’t dry but was weird for a fajita because instead of grilled meat it seemed more like simmered in liquid fajita. I didn’t try the fish because it was breaded and also in liquid falling apart. The other worst dish had to be the pasta. It was the mushiest pasta ever made anywhere.

We saw signs all over saying that Monday-Saturday the Buffet is less than $20. We found out that the Sunday Buffet ran $29.95.

That was my trip to the Sunday Buffet at IL Toro E La Capra

IL Toro E La Capra

6435 S Decatur Blvd Las Vegas NV

702-331-6090

www.ToroELaCapra.com

Every THING is subject to change.

Soulbelly BBQ is located in the Downtown Arts District of Las Vegas that’s not too far from the famous Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. This restaurant is by Chef Bruce Kalman who is a former Bravo Top Chef and was also James Beard Nominated. He was also victorious on Food Network’s Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay Shows.

On your way in there is a good sized patio and a large smoker that is usually smoking meat.

Inside there is a bar, an open kitchen, dining area, and a stage for bands.

Every time we go the menu seems to change some.

Maybe half the time I get the ground in-house smoked brisket burger occasionally. (I get it with slaw instead of cheese)

It’s always good!

My husband often orders a sandwich called The Belly of the Soul. (smoked brisket, fried egg, cheese sauce, pickled onions, spicy bbq sauce, and crispy onions)

It was really good to him and the Mac-n-cheese was also good too.

Here’s the menu we had.

Soulbelly is still Worth a Fork!

Soulbelly BBQ

1327 S Main Street Las Vegas NV

702-483-4404

www.SoulbellyBBQ.com

Every THING is subject to change.

Chip Off The Block is a sandwich and burger shop that is connected to The Butcher Shop (Butcher Shop) in the northwest part of Vegas. They offer a variety of Boars Head meat sandwiches, some house smoked meat sandwiches, burgers and more!

First you order and pay at the counter.

Then you seat yourself.

They run your order to you when it’s ready.

I tried a pastrami sandwich on rye bread with house sauce, slaw, and sweet potato tots.

This sandwich is not going to win a prize for beauty but I’m happy to tell you that it tastes better than it looks. They cooked the pastrami in au jus and that embellishes the flavor and tenderness of the pastrami. This is also a very large sandwich and most people will get two meals out of it. The sweet potato tots are also very tasty.

My husband tried the Smoked Tri Tip Sandwich with added cheese and sidewinder fries.

It’s also a big generous sandwich with a half pound of meat. Also those fries are really great. They almost are like they are filled with creamy mashed potatoes.

Chip Off The Block is certainly Worth a Try!!!!

Chip Off The Block

6440 N Durango Drive Las Vegas NV

702-812-9300

www.ButcherBlockLV.com

Every THING is subject to change.