Chinese food

Question

Hello all,

Sorry for the random question. When I get Chinese food in Vegas (or anywhere in the US) it always lacks sauce. In the UK, I always get meat with a sauce - my go to is King Prawn in chilli & garlic sauce. Are there any dishes on a typical Vegas menu that would come in a sauce, or any particular restaurant that has dishes with sauce? I end up putting half a bottle of soy sauce on my meals which obviously is not great.....

Answer

It's not a random question at all — I totally understand where you're coming from! Chinese food in the US often differs in preparation and flavor compared to what you'd get in the UK. One of the biggest differences is the sauce-to-meat ratio. In many US-style Chinese dishes, the focus tends to be more on the meat and vegetables with a lighter coating of sauce, while in the UK, dishes like your go-to King Prawn in Chilli & Garlic sauce tend to be more sauce-heavy.

Fortunately, there are some dishes in Vegas where you can find more flavorful and saucy options. You just need to know what to look for! Here are a few suggestions:

Kung Pao Chicken: This is one of the more saucy dishes you’ll find. It typically has a savory, slightly spicy sauce made from soy sauce, vinegar, and sugar, with garlic and chili peppers. It's a classic, and you can often find it with a good amount of sauce.
General Tso's Chicken: This is a popular choice in many Chinese-American restaurants, and it comes in a sweet and tangy sauce with a bit of spice. The sauce is thick and sweet, so it might give you that saucy kick you're looking for!
Sweet and Sour Chicken or Pork: If you like a sweet, tangy sauce, this is another option that typically has a generous amount of sauce. It’s usually served with a batter-fried meat, but the sauce is often served on the side, so ask for extra sauce if needed!
Beef with Broccoli (or other vegetable-based dishes): Often served in a savory brown sauce made from soy sauce, oyster sauce, and sometimes hoisin. If you're looking for something with a nice, salty base, this is a great choice.
Chicken in Black Bean Sauce: A great saucy dish, featuring tender chicken cooked with fermented black beans, garlic, and chili peppers. It's savory and flavorful, with a good amount of sauce that complements the dish without overwhelming it.

Restaurants that serve saucy Chinese dishes in Vegas:

China Mama: Known for its authentic Chinese dishes, China Mama often serves up a good amount of sauce with its dishes, particularly its braised meats and noodle dishes. The flavors are more traditional, and the portions are often generous.
Wing Lei (Wynn Las Vegas): Wing Lei offers upscale Chinese cuisine and tends to be more generous with their sauces. Dishes like their Peking Duck are often served with rich, flavorful sauces.
Hong Kong Café (Chinatown): A local favorite, this place serves some great saucy dishes, including a variety of stir-fries and braised dishes. You can ask for extra sauce if you want more of a saucy base in your meal.
Chinatown's P.F. Chang's: Although it’s a chain, P.F. Chang's often gives more emphasis to sauce-heavy dishes like Mongolian Beef or Chang's Spicy Chicken. They offer a variety of saucy options that are more aligned with the richer flavors you're used to.

For the best results, always ask for extra sauce when ordering your dish, or even request a side of the sauce to pour over the meal yourself. Many places will accommodate this if you ask! You can also try ordering dishes with a heavier sauce base (like those listed above) and see if they hit the mark for you.

So while it might not be exactly the same as what you're used to in the UK, these tips should help you find dishes with the flavorful, saucy profile you crave while in Las Vegas!

Chinese food

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