I guess I should include some disclosure here. I grew up in California, but I have two uncles that have lived in Las Vegas most of my life. So as a kid I went to Vegas often. Not to the point of where it was a second home — I doubt anyone can truly feel at home in Las Vegas, even if they’ve lived there their entire life.

The last time I was there I saw this little Chinatown. It’s not far from the fledgling, wanabe Koreatown. I think establishing these places in Las Vegas would be a real boon since there are so many tourists from Asia that go to Vegas. This is from a New York Times piece on the LVCT:

But ask any Chinese tourist and you’ll find that Las Vegas’s Chinatown is high on their checklist. Tour buses regularly motor a mile off the Strip to stop at Chinatown Plaza, an open-air mall founded in 1994 by James Chen, a developer who envisioned a Chinatown that was different from the one he first saw when he arrived in Los Angeles as an immigrant in 1971.

“Since the whole town of Las Vegas is man-made anyway, I thought, ‘Why not build a Chinatown to serve the needs of the growing Chinese population?’” Mr. Chen said.

After a few bumpy years, Chinatown has lately become a surprisingly popular destination for residents, who come to eat, shop for groceries and get the Chinese newspaper, which is published on the site. A welcome arch is planted at the entrance to the parking lot; turned-up eaves and tiled roofs adorn the mall’s skyline.

There’s even a mention of said Koreatown. We actually ate Korean food in Las Vegas at a samgyupsal restaurant. Not bad, but as most Korean food in the states, unreasonably expensive. About $60 for three people.

Indeed, a recent tour through the neighborhood saw evidence of more coming soon, in a large empty lot several miles west of the plaza. A prominent sign staking out the space read, “KOREATOWN!”