CHĪ Asian Kitchen
Oolong Tea
Spicy Edamame – Wok Charred Edamame, Spicy Ginger & Garlic Sauce
XO Shrimp Noodles – Choy Sum, Egg Noodles, Spicy XO Sauce
Crab Wonton – Cream Cheese, Scallions, Sweet Chili
Shanghai Scallion Pancake – Ginger Soy Sauce
Potstickers – Pork & Shrimp
Baked Char Siu Pork Buns – Honey & Garlic Glaze
Spicy Beef Tan Tan Udon – Ground Beef, Scallions, Bean Sprouts, Cilantro, Spicy Miso-Sesame
Korean Fried Chicken Bao – Spicy Soy Mayo, Pickled Daikon
Bulgogi Fried Rice – Shaved Marinated Ribeye, Kim Chee, Mushrooms, Sunny Side Up Egg, Togarashi, Scallions
Pork Xiao Long Bao Soup Dumplings
Donut – Fried Croissant Beignets, Sugar
Built out of dead space at The Strat CHĪ Asian Kitchen opened without fanfare in late October, only a few signs around the property alerting guests to a secret that is actually one of 2022’s best new Restaurants in Las Vegas.
Concepted by Chef Bradley Manchester, time spent staging in San Francisco’s Chinatown not promoted but used to refine skills and understand traditions, CHĪ offers a wide variety of nostalgic dishes plus several innovative ideas all made from scratch in a brand new kitchen.
Decorated to reminisce of Asian alleyways, though Private Dining Rooms and Bar Seating are also available, CHĪ’s menu ranges from Buns to Noodles made on site, the former fluffy but generously loaded with fatty Pork or Korean Fried Chicken and Spicy Soy Mayo.
Coating Edamame with Salt, Ginger and Garlic, or chewy Egg Noodles with Shrimp plus XO Sauce, Dumplings shine whether resting in vibrant Chili Sauce or pan-seared in the form of Pot Stickers.
Just $8 for Char Siu in golden Pastry, a bargain among bargains since many of the dishes from Chef Manchester and team are priced similar to mom n’ pop spots along Spring Mountain, Spicy Beef Tan Tan Udon arrived in an enormous bowl with great depth of flavor created Scallions and Miso.
Doing justice to Crab Rangoon, plus Fried Rice that sees Marinated Ribeye, Kimchi and Mushrooms married by Egg Yolk, XLB are something of letdown thanks to thick Noodles and plating that saw half rip when attempting to liberate them from the steam basket.
Not listing Desserts on the website or bill of fare, a separate menu offered by request, Chinese Donuts a la Cronut come in a takeout box with Granulated Sugar and hints of Citrus coating the fluffy and oilless base.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS: An unexpected stunner built from the ground up CHĪ Asian Kitchen walks a fine line between traditional and modern, its success thus far a result of fair pricing plus the sort of effort rarely exerted by a casual ethnic eatery on The Strip.
RECOMMENDED: Potstickers, Baked Char Siu Pork Buns, Spicy Beef Tan Tan Udon, Korean Fried Chicken Bao, Bulgogi Fried Rice.
AVOID: XLB need work.
TIP: Open noon-10p Tuesday through Thursday, till 11p on Friday and Saturday.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
www.thestrat.com/restaurants/chi-asian-kitchen