Momofuku: Pork Bun Delight

I’ve always wanted to try chef David Chang’s Momofuku dinner menu when I was in NY (waaay too much good food but too little time) but never got to try anything beyond the pork buns. Now that Momofuku has expanded to Las Vegas, I decided to try it out for dinner.
I ordered the legendary pork belly buns and they were just as good as I remembered. The slow cooked tender pork belly is wrapped in the slightly sweet mantou bun with a dash of hoisin, sprinkling of scallion, and shreds of crunchy cucumber. I could eat these all night and be happy…..although I did get a whole order to myself. 🙂

Sweets Raku: Just Desserts

Have you ever wanted to just get dessert at a restaurant but felt bad doing so? Well, Sweets Raku will save you the embarrassment. They also offer light sandwich lunches but their specialties are the artistically crafted desserts.

I ordered the dessert set for $15 which included an amuse and a dessert of your choice. (The dessert alone costs $12.) I also chose a wine pairing to go with my main dessert.

Eat: The Word Says it All

If you’re looking for a decent brunch place in Las Vegas without forking over an arm and a leg for brunch, head over to Eat. This industrially decorated restaurant is where the locals go. Don’t let the looks of this place fool you. The food is delicious! Using fresh, local ingredients, one bite and you’ll be hooked!

Donut Bar: Pop Tart Donut, Say What?!

Have you ever had to decide between a pop tart or donut for breakfast but wanted both? Well, you’re in luck! At Donut Bar, they sell a pop tart donut duo. That’s right! The big poppa tart has a blueberry pop tart stuffed in a donut so you can have both.

Zhujiajiao: Ancient Chinese Venice

If you have half a day to spare while in Shanghai, take a day trip out to Zhujiajiao in the Qingpu district. This ancient water town is only an hour away from the city.

Nanxiang Mantou Dian: Drink Your Xiao Long Bao with a Straw

If you’re curious to know where to find the monstrous xiao long bao (xlb), go to Nanxiang Mantou Dian (aka Nanxiang Steamed Bun). It’s on the way to Yuyuan Garden.

This restaurant has several levels. At street level, you can order your extra large xlb to go. To find the take out window, look for the long line and people walking away with xlb and you’ll know you’re in the right line.

I chose to dine in the restaurant upstairs. I ordered the ginormous xlb. It’s so big that you have to drink the juices with a straw. Slurp slowly because the juice is steaming hot.  I found the meaty juice flavor to be mediocre, which was disappointing due to its hype.

Yuyuan Garden: Ancient Chinese Architecture in Old City Shanghai

Yu Garden or aka Yuyuan Garden was built in 1559 during the Ming Dynasty by Pan Yudan. He wanted a tranquil and happy place for his parents. However, the expense of building this place ruined the Pans.

Lilian Bakery: Egg Tart Alert!

If you come across Lilian Bakery in Shanghai, make a pit stop and treat yourself to some delicious Portuguese egg tarts.

Tianzi Fang 田子坊: Shanghai’s Artist Collective

What once was a regular residential neighborhood, Tianzi Fang is now a maze of small alleyway boutiques featuring artists’ crafts for sale.

Coquille

After a wonderful dinner at Scarpetta, I headed next door to Coquille for dessert. This quaint French seafood bistro looks like it belongs in Paris.