Tag Archives: #LasVegasFood

A Little Taste of Golden Phoenix Chinese Cuisine North Las Vegas NV

Golden Phoenix Chinese Cuisine is a casual Asian neighborhood type Restaurant that serves mostly American Chinese Cuisine. They also offer a few Thai dishes, Singapore curry, teriyaki, lunch specials, family dinners and more! They are located in North Las Vegas Nevada.

We tried two dishes. The tomato beef because that is not often found on American Chinese menus and the hot garlic Szechuan chicken with upgraded brown rice.

We were surprised with a small plate of fried crispy noodle with duck sauce.

The tomato beef is made with scrambled eggs.

I’ve had this dish before a few times…….and at each place it differs some. Here the beef is tender and the sauce is mildly tomato beefy………Here it is not sweet like it is from some places.

The hot garlic Szechuan chicken here has lots more going on with it.

The white meat chicken is lightly coated and is masterfully moist and tender. Todays vegetables are scallions, zucchini, carrots, bell peppers, onions, and two kinds of mushrooms. The sauce does have sweetness to it but not too much and has other flavors and HEAT from dried and fresh hot peppers.

The food so far was reasonably good and better than from a lot of American/Chinese restaurants we tried in Phoenix so we came back and did take out.

We tried the chicken potstickers.

These were fried and are crispy all over but tasty.

The hot and spicy chicken REALLY IS HOT and SPICY.

It’s also PACKED with LOTS of tender chicken. I like that this dish contains fresh basil but I wished they didn’t include the basil stems because they aren’t edible.But this dish does have a nice flavor to it.

Hunan beef also is pretty good!

The beef is slightly coated and crispy but also very tender and tasty. There is a little tender crisp broccoli and a generous portion of rice.

For another take out we shared the mu shu chicken.

It came with two wrappers that are similar to thin flour tortillas. This dish is very different but also very good. The flavors are much lighter and delicate. This dish is also lighter and easier to eat. This dish is also packed with more vegetables and the chicken is expertly moist and tender. It also came with this sauce that was delicious with it and was sort of mainly star anise taste.

That was a little taste of Golden Phoenix Chinese Cuisine in North Las Vegas Nevada.

702-457-6688

2345 E Centennial PKWY North Las Vegas NV

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Juan’s Flaming Fajitas & Cantina really does serve FLAMING FAJITAS – Worth a Fork! N. Las Vegas NV

Juan’s Flaming Fajitas & Cantina as of April 2023 has three locations in Las Vegas Nevada. I went to the North Las Vegas Location. Their specialty is the flaming fajita so that is what we were set to try. They also offer fresh made tortillas made in house.

Occasional live music.

They also offer a long menu of many traditional Mexican Dishes like carnitas, chile rellenos, fresh seafood, and more!

Whatever you order they start you off with two salsas and warm bean dip with fresh just made hot chips. (red sauce taste like chile de arbal to me?, green salsa is a delicious tomatillo based sauce, and my husband enjoyed the bean dip)

Our fajita for two came with cups of fideo soup (tasty tomato based soup with pasta).

In a little while our fajita cart comes out rolling over to us.

A liquid ignites the fajitas. (We asked two different people what the liquid was but didn’t really get an answer…..but I thought I might have heard one of the workers mumbling vodka and something else?……When I worked for Chi-Chi’s many years ago we used a lemon wedge to ignite the skillet)

Then almost instantly the fajitas go KA-BOOM!

Juan’s Flaming Fajitas REALLY are served FLAMING!

Here the fajita after the flame.

You do get fresh made tortillas (corn or flour) side boats of rice and beans (refried, black bean, or pinto) Or you can get steamed vegetables…..(I’ll try that next time)

Here’s the black beans and rice it comes with pico, sour cream, and guacamole.

Here’s the pinto beans and rice.

Back to the fajitas.

This is one of the best fajitas that I’ve tasted and I’ve tasted a lot of them over the decades. The meats taste marinated and are both developed with flavors. Both are tender. Both really are good but both of us love the chicken more………It’s just Phenomenally great.

I HAVE TO SAY-

Juan’s Flaming Fajitas & Cantina is-

Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

Juan’s Flaming Fajitas & Cantina – 2660 W Centennial PKWY North Las Vegas NV

702-473-5529

www.JuansFlamingFajitas.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Don Michael’s Restaurant Las Vegas NV – Reasonably Priced Neighborhood Italian Restaurant – Worth a Try!

Don Michael’s Restaurant is a small casual Italian Restaurant located in a strip mall in North-West Las Vegas Nevada. It’s not a fancy place. I can tell you that from just one visit that portions are large and prices are low.

They did start us off with garlic toast that I forgot to photo.

We shared an appetizer called portobello mushrooms. I was expecting a few mushrooms stuffed with some cheese and crumbs……..but we received a large bowl of mushrooms with fresh spinach in a very rich mushroomy cheese sauce.

This is a big bowl and can certainly feed far more than two people.

This is very good with the bread. I think it would also be really great on a potato.

For dinner I tried the salmon Da Vinci that is salmon in a sherry dijon sauce with capers, artichokes, and pasta.

Everything is prepared reasonably well. The sauce is tasty and the salmon isn’t overcooked. It’s also a very large portion.

My husband went with one of the specials called chicken saliccia. It was tender chunks of chicken with sausage, bell peppers, onions, olives, rosemary, thyme, wine, and Sunday sauce….topped with a little grated cheese.

He said it was flavored very good!

Don Michael’s Restaurant is a casual neighborhood type restaurant that serves very large portions and is reasonably priced.

Worth a Try!

Don Michael’s Restaurant – 4864 W Lone Mountain Rd Las Vegas NV

702-778-2004

www.DonMichaelsRestaurant.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

International Smoke Las Vegas NV – Don’t get the Chicken

International Smoke is a restaurant by chef Michael Mina and author and television host Ayesha Curry. This restaurant had two locations. One location is in San Francisco and the other that I went to is in The MGM Grand Resort and Casino on the strip in Las Vegas Nevada. This restaurant offers a global menu. They say they cook with smoke and use bold flavors.

Inside is sort of dark but not too dark (you can read the menu). The decor is masculine and classic. A large bar is almost half the dining area. As you walk in you are greeted with a delicious aroma of smoke……

inside

We started out by sharing the black truffle mac ‘n’ cheese.

The pasta is nice and firm and isn’t mushy. The cheese sauce taste like it was made with real cheese and it is good. The truffles don’t give off much flavors but it is better that than to taste artificial flavors.

My husband tried the Jamaican braised oxtail.

This dish was good. Good flavors, a little spicy…….It was enhanced with red beans, coconut rice, and Jamaican green seasoning. The only issue here was that it lacked enough sauce to really enjoy.

I tried the Sinaldan Style Mary’s Chicken (achiote salsa mache, sauce pastor, sweet potato, avocado).

On the bright side the flavors really were off the charts amazing……and spicy too……………..But on the dark side this chicken was prepared very uneven, mostly DRY and hard to cut, and with rubbery inedible chicken skin. It was hard to enjoy the amazing flavors here. I was asked by someone (maybe a manager? not my server) on how it was but I just started so I didn’t know how it was yet because she asked as soon as I got it. Didn’t feel like complaining after I was done.

Off of one visit I don’t really know how this restaurant is but I would not recommend getting the chicken. Oh I should mention that I have recently enjoyed the Korean Bbq Salmon Sandwich from Micheal Mina’s Bourbon Pub at San Francisco AIRPORT…(yes at Airport) It was so delicious…and amazing….I wonder if chicken is good there?

International Smoke

3799 S Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas NV (MGM Grand)

702-891-3922

www.MGMGrand.com

www.InternationalSmoke.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Siegel’s Bagelmania Las Vegas NV – GREAT BAGELS – Worth a Fork!

Siegal’s Bagelmania is possibly the largest Jewish Delicatessen on the West Coast. They are located in Las Vegas Nevada near the convention center that is near to the Las Vegas Strip. They also have a smaller location in the airport in terminal one.

You either dine in or do take out.

This is the take out line below.

The take out line starts around here with Pink Box Doughnuts.

Next is a couple counters that are oozing with pastries, breads, cookies, cakes, and more.

Then you make it to the bagels.

The worker’s T shirts backs read “Challah at me.”

Here’s more bagels and an everything flagel.

Then you go by the shmears.

I skipped a few cases….because somewhere around here is where you order the deli meats , cheese and fish.

Then you hit knishes, latkes, blintzes and noodle kugel oh my!

We took out a few things.

Plain, rye, and everything bagels – These are the BEST bagels that I have tried since I left Pennsylvania.

belly lox (considered the better lox if you can handle the salt…..) (too salty for me)

nova lox – Both lox appear to be hand sliced

pastrami

pickles

GREAT BAGELS and more!

Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

Siegel’s Bagelmania

252 Convention Center Dr Las Vegas NV 702-369-3322

www.BagelmaniaLV.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Brera Osteria Las Vegas NV – Ask for the $28.00 3 Course Chefs Tasting Lunch GREAT FIND! Worth a Fork!

Brera Osteria is a multi-regional Italian restaurant that is an inspiration of the artsy-cool Brera neighborhood in Milan Italy. This restaurant is located in St Mark’s Square in the Grand Canal Shoppes in The Venetian on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. Besides many Italian favorites they also offer authentic Neapolitan pizza. All the seating is on the indoor patio.

They don’t post this menu so it is a secret. You have to ask for the 3 course chef’s tasting lunch menu. There is an additional charge for four of the items on the menu.

We both went for the 3 course lunch menu and everything we tried was at least good.

They start you off with complimentary bread with a little oil and balsamic.

First course was the salad called insalata (wild arugula, fennel, orange, olives, grana, chili vinaigrette).

The other first course was meatballs (beef & pork, San Marzano, mozzarella, and grilled bread).

For my main I got the salmon (Umbrian lentils, fennel puree, leeks, beet aioli). and this alone was worth the $28.00 to me. It was prepared just so and also cooked to my request.

My husband got the beef tenderloin ($18. extra charge) (with grilled romaine hearts, roasted potatoes, chimichurri).

My husband asked me to taste the beef but I was busy with my plate and declined…..Then he said that I must try the potatoes so I tried one. It was sort of garlic-ee but tasted like a special potato. Not a regular potato that you get at the supermarket…A special variety.

For dessert we both went with the bread pudding imbedded with fruit, nuts, chocolate, and was enhanced with gelato, caramel, whipped cream, and berries.

If you want this then you have to ASK for the three course chef’s tasting menu from Brera Osteria at the Venetian at St Mark’s Square. I think that it is a great find! Worth a Fork!

Worth a Fork!

3355 S Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas NV

702-414-1227

www.BreraOsteria.com

www.VenetianLasVegas.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Miznon – Seasonal Israeli Street Food Las Vegas NV – Worth a Fork! RUN!!! DON’T WALK

Miznon is a seasonal high quality chain of Israeli Street Food Restaurants by chef Eyal Shani. According to www.Miznon.com they have locations in Israel, United States, France, Austria, Australia, Singapore, Canada, and United Kingdom. We went to the newly opened Las Vegas location. (***I’ve also read that a location just opened recently in Canada) The Las Vegas location is located near the Palazzo casino floor that is in the Venetian on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada.

This is a very casual food market stall with bar seating. You order and pay at the counter and seat yourself. They call your name as things from your order are ready. At the current time a few tables are scattered across from the stall. This is the spot where Fine Dining Israeli Hasalon Restaurant will be also by chef Eyal Shani.

The signature dish is The Original World Famous Baby Cauliflower. (you can see the Atlantic flake Sea Salt on it)

The cauliflower comes out like this with tahini sauce and a green chili sauce that is called shrug or zhug sauce (many different spellings).

It’s very surprising how great that this very simple cauliflower can taste…..It really is very good and special! It so special that the recipe of this cauliflower is posted at the restaurant.

I couldn’t try everything………so I snapped this picture of the bag of green beans when I saw them come up at the counter (with olive oil, lemon, garlic, salt).

I had to try the plate called “The Best Hummus Plate That You Will Ever Eat with Melting Chickpeas.”

I can sure tell you that it was a very great plate of hummus and also was the most detailed plate of hummus that I have ever tried anywhere. It’s enhanced with melting chickpeas, slices of hard egg, green chili sauce, olive oil, tomato seeds that are like caviar, and tahini. The pita is very fluffy and it’s all really great together.

We were both blown away with both the next two meat dishes. One was the sal de coq (rotisserie chicken, fresh herbs, radish, cucumber, pickles)

The flavors and moisture in the chicken is OFF THE CHARTS GREAT! It must be tasted to be believed. This really blew us away. You can’t really see it in my photo (because I wanted you to see the chicken) but they also gave us this incredibly delicious roasted pepper with it. (lower left corner)

LIGHTNING STRIKES AGAIN!

bag of golden meat

The pita-less entree called “Bag of Golden Meat” is far more incredible than I can ever describe. The depth of flavors and tenderness was so shocking in a great way.

This is some sort of overnight brisket, grilled onions, and a garlic-ee aioli. Honestly this didn’t even seem like brisket because it was so amazing. I really thought it tasted more like the finest shaved prime rib from a very upscale steakhouse.

Oh and I forgot to mention that the meat portions were extra large so it also is a really great value dining here.

RUN !!!!!! Don’t walk. GO to Miznon as soon as you can because it really was that good and Worth a Fork! (and a Great value too!)

Worth a Fork!

Miznon

3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas NV (Venetian located near to the Palazzo Casino Floor)

www.VenetianLasVegas.com

www.Miznon.com (at the time of my visit the Las Vegas location was not yet listed on this site but is listed on the Venetian site)

But every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

Block 9 Thai Street Eats Summerlin NV – Mild Thai Food

Block 9 Thai Street Eats is a Thai Restaurant located in South Summerlin Nevada a short ride away from the Las Vegas Strip. This is a very casual Thai Restaurant.

You order and pay at the counter.

Then they give you a number to place on your table and they run beverages and food to you. They offer mostly soft beverages but canned adult cider is offered and maybe two canned beers.

My husband tried the side order of E-Saan sausages. The food is served on to go cardboard dishes.

They come garnished with lettuce wraps some peanuts, cilantro, and onions. These might be good but maybe are for an inquired taste………….

I ordered the basil eggplant “Hot” with chicken.

This is the first basil eggplant dish that I have tried that has zero heat. It also is very fish sauce forward….It taste like mostly fish sauce. It does have basil in it but for some reason the basil is tasteless and the basil flavor hasn’t been infused into the dish. The chicken is very tender but just taste mostly like fish sauce.

My husband tried the drunken noodles with chicken “Hot.”

Also zero heat and I tasted one bite. It tasted bitter to me me and also too heavy with fish sauce for my taste. My husband thought that the bitter taste was from the Chinese Broccoli in the dish because he said that the vegetable was very bitter.

That was a little taste of Block 9 Thai Street Eats. I do note that I have only been here once and I don’t know if my visit was typical or not. From what we tried the food runs as mild as mild gets.

10595 Discovery Dr Summerlin NV

702-331-1088

www.Block9Thai.com

Everything is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

A Little Taste of Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant DT Summerlin Las Vegas NV – I doubt anyone ever leaves hungry from here.

Pancho’s Mexican Restaurant is located in the Downtown Summerlin part of Las Vegas Nevada. They also have a California location. They offer most of your usual Mexican Favorites like quesadillas, tacos, burritos, chimichangas, enchiladas, combo plates, beef and chicken entrees, margaritas, desserts and more.

Inside is very rich with decorations and live plants.

This is also a very large two story restaurant with several dining rooms.

Whatever you order they start you out with a big basket of hot corn chips and a spicy herbed salsa.

The entrees come with your choice of a salad……

Or soup of the day (this evening it was albondigas soup ((Mexican Meatball soup)))

I thought the mole en pipian sounded like an interesting dish that I don’t see very often on menus.

It’s an enormous serving of tender white meat chicken chunks in a pumpkin seed, peanut spiced sauce. It’s served with cilantro rice and vegetarian black beans topped with cotija cheese. Oh and your choice of tortillas too! It’s tasty and not too spicy but is also very flavorful. Taste like maybe guadijillo chilies in it?

My husband tried the steak picado.

It’s tender flat iron steak with grilled peppers, onions, tomatoes and melted cheese with Mexican style rice and vegetarian re-fried beans. (They don’t cook with lard and use healthier soybean oil instead) It’s a BIG tasty plate.

The desserts offered did sound delicious but I find that I am never able to fit in dessert at Mexican restaurants.

I doubt anyone ever leaves hungry from Pancho’s in DT Summerlin Las Vegas.

11020 Lavender Hill DR DT Summerlin Las Vegas NV

702-982-0111

www.PanchosRestaurant.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth

A Little Taste of Osteria Fiorella at The Red Rock Casino Las Vegas NV

Osteria Fiorella is an Italian Restaurant by James Beard Award Winning chef Marc Vetri. This restaurant is located in the Red Rock Casino and Resort that is in the Summerlin area in Las Vegas Nevada.

It’s artsy and modern inside. There are several small bars and wine bars inside.

They also have an exhibition kitchen in the middle of the restaurant.

They start you off with a bread basket of freshly made sourdough bread and focaccia with Californian olive oil enhanced with balsamic vinegar.

The breads are very good and are unlike any focaccia or sour dough bread that I ever had before. The focaccia is very light and moist in texture with delicious flakes of salt on the crust. The sour dough bread is like what white bread would taste like if white bread was really good.

We started with the seasonal crudo. It was hamachi with citrus.

It was very good. The fish seemed very fresh and came with citrus that taste better than what us mere mortals can buy from our local supermarkets.

We also shared a pasta dish because you really are suppose to try pasta here.

We shared the ricotta tortellini with preserved tomatoes and Calabrian chili.

These were different too…..The pasta was extra thin and very light. The cheese inside sure doesn’t taste like it was from a tub….It taste milky and fresh made to me.

For my main I tried the branzino.

It’s different…….The fish has a different kind of fired taste. I forgot what kind of oven they used for this fish but it is different. The fish came adorned with baby greens, peperonata, oil, lemon and sweet peppers, It’s a good size portion and is almost big enough to share.

My husband tried the bone-in veal.

It’s also a little different. It’s a pounded breaded veal covered in San Marzano Tomato sauce that is topped with fresh basil and melting high quality bufala cheese.

I managed to save room for dessert and tried what my waiter said was the popular favorite dessert here.

This is called the Orange Bonet.

It’s cream custard topped with poached pear with house made vanilla gelato on the side enhanced with orange sauce, citrus zest, and crushed pistachios.

That was a little taste Osteria Fiorella.

11011 W Charleston Blvd Las Vegas (Red Rock Casino and Resort)

702-797-7777

www.RedRockResort.com

Every THING is subject to change.

The Forking Truth