NoJennyNo: Eating On and Off Strip in Las Vegas

Vegas is a foodie paradise.
When I wasn't working out for the photoshoot, I was eating (albeit in moderation).

There are endless buffets, famous chain restaurants, and high end serving some of the best dishes fit for a Vegas King on the strip. If you are here for a weekend like most people, it's easy to find something that fits every budget and occasion.

However, if you're a resident or even a long term visitor like myself, it's easy to get bored of the same ol' Vegas strip. The drunk crowd, long waits, and even unfavorable price to quality ratio can be tiring. If you know where to go, it's highly advisable to go off strip for hidden gems.

I've listed in detail 2 of my favorite discoveries and 2 of my rediscovered Strip favorites.

1. Sushi Hiro

For some odd reason there are extremely good Japanese food in Vegas. You can find anything from sushi to ramen and yakitori that are run by real Japanese chefs with quality ingredients flown from Japan. One surprise find was this sushi joint that does the 'American' versions of sushi rolls complete with cream cheese as well as the authentic sushi with fish flown directly from Tsukiji Fish Market in Japan.

The exterior looks like any other mediocre sushi restaurant typical of suburban USA, but the menu and sushi bar is something more typical of a higher quality restaurants of Japan.

I went a few times to try out different daily specials. Some of my favorites were:

Homemade tofu

Even tofu haters loved this one

Uni rice set

Rice, real wasabi, uni, tuna, salmon roe and egg.

Yellowtail with jalapenos

Not exactly 'authentic Japanese', but it's super fresh.

Sushi, especially the two different types tuna belly. Smoked salmon and red snapper are also highly recommended.

Must have.

Ice cream mochi

Perfectly soft texture

Chada Street

This is the one place I visited at least once a week. It's actually the lesser known second restaurant of the same name and owner, Chada, but I much prefer this one. It's bizarre that they both have the same chef and same menu but the original location failed to make a memorable meal for me. However, the Chada Street absolutely blew my mind. I've had my fair share of Thai cuisine of every type from actual Thailand as well as the rest of the world, from cheap to the most expensive, and my friend who's been to Thailand numerous times over decades agrees that this is the top 3 best Thai food in the world.

I've only been at night where the lighting made for terrible photos, so I took some photos of my favorite dishes off of Yelp.

So good!

Duck panang

One of their spiciest curries, the fried duck with the buttery curry... it's a must try.

Pad thai

Any reputable Thai restaurant should have a bomb pad thai.

Duck fried rice (not pictured) and crab fried rice

I prefer the spicy duck rice, but this mild crab rice is also a great choice.

Grilled squid

Tangy sauce and juicy squid is a healthy but delicious option.

Fried shrimp with tamarind sauce

They fry the skin to an edible crunchy layer. SO GOOD.

Lava honey toast

It's a regular giant honey toast with Thai tea added onto it. Makes it a soft, even more delectable honey toast for 4 people.

Giada

I love this place for a nice date night. The views are some of the best in the city, with Bellagio fountains as the backdrop. The decor is not as flashy as other restaurants typical of Vegas - classy with a touch of gold flare.

The service and reservation is not too bad, but expect a bit of chaos on the weekends.

I match this restaurant.

Truffle ham

So good, we ordered double.

Chicken meatballs

Sweet caramelized outer layer

Shrimp cocktail

They peel first then grill a bit on the outside

Veal

Bone in veal, crunched to perfection.

Vegan tomato pasta

The only non-cheese pasta option. It's great, though, with a hollowed thicker spaghetti to trap the sauce without being getting too soft.

Grand Marnier souffle

Extra 15-20 mins is worth the wait

The cookies are extra soft

It's a great place to bring friends as well, with a social atmosphere that's not too loud.

Jaleo

I was craving Spanish food.

I'm not sure if I love this place or just simply was satisfying my cravings, but I've had not-so-stellar experiences in the past (too salty or over-fried) as well as some hit-the-spot experiences like this year. I still think it's a decent place to take someone out to make an impression.