While my time in Las Vegas was short and I didn’t explore nearly as many restaurants as I would have liked, I was determined to squeeze in one more before heading home. I had only a few hours between checking out of my hotel and boarding my flight, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned about myself, it’s that I’ll make the time for food.
I had one restaurant left on my list.
As I sat in my Lyft and made my way there, I was already happy to be on my way. That restaurant was China Mama in Henderson, Nevada.
My visit fell somewhere between breakfast and lunch. It wasn’t quite one or the other, but honestly, I didn’t care. I was the first person through the door after opening and was simply excited to finally see if China Mama was as good as I had hoped. Sitting in the booth I could see some of the food on the menu was made for 1-2 people based on the price and that was confirmed by the waitress. Knowing that, the sticker shock of some of the prices faded away. I then ordered and it didn’t take long for my food to arrive.
I started with the Deep Fried Jumbo Shrimp in Special Sauce ($32). The shrimp were substantial in size and were covered in a crispy coating as it sat in the restaurant’s special sauce. Across the plump shrimp was a savory and semi-sweet richness that made the dish taste exceptional. I couldn’t stop eating it and each bite only confirmed how good it truly was. It was exactly the kind of dish I wanted after spending my morning getting ready to leave Las Vegas.
Along with the shrimp was the Mama Fried Rice with Beef ($20).
Fried rice can be easy to overlook because it’s familiar, but good fried rice doesn’t need to reinvent itself. The beef added heartiness to the rice, and the entire dish was satisfying enough to make me wish I had more time to sit and enjoy it.
There was also something interesting about visiting this China Mama.
The Henderson restaurant is part of a much bigger Las Vegas story. China Mama has been part of the Las Vegas dining scene for years. What began as one restaurant grew into a local favorite with multiple locations throughout the valley. So while I was sitting in Henderson eating what would become my final meal of the trip, I knew I wasn’t simply visiting another Chinese restaurant. I was visiting a restaurant brand that had become part of the Las Vegas community and continued growing as the years have progressed. And I’m glad I made the time.
Las Vegas gave me plenty of reasons to return, and China Mama sits pretty high on that list.
Follow Them.
Address: 2550 St. Rose Pkwy, Suite 110, Henderson, NV 89074
Phone: (702) 992-3643
Hours: Daily – 11:00am to 10:00pm
Social: Website, Instagram and Facebook.
