Among the steakhouses and Italian restaurants found at Monte Carlo on the Las Vegas Strip is an unassuming Chinese restaurant tucked off the casino floor. Executive chef Patrick Fong leads the way at Dragon Noodle Co. & Sushi Bar with classic Chinese cuisine and house-made dim sum and sushi.
To start off your meal, order from the drink list. There are several fun and flavorful cocktails including The Purple Pearl, which features black raspberry sake, and the Ginger Kyushu, a spritzer of sorts served with fresh mint. The wine list is fairly standard with glasses ranging from $8.00 to $15.00. Of particular interest are the Japanese craft beers, which include ginger and red rice flavors.
The dinner menu is thorough, beginning with the appetizers, dim sum, pot stickers and soup. Prices are very reasonable by Las Vegas Strip standards, and dishes are large enough to share for the table. There’s no skimping on the pot stickers, which are made from high-quality ingredients, and the BBQ pork steamed buns are as traditional as they come.
Entree options fall under the following categories: Noodles, pork, seafood, beef and vegetable and rice dishes. As this is the Dragon Noodle Co., many patrons gravitate toward the noodle dishes, and the seafood pan-fried noodle dish is among the most popular on the menu. Other highlights include the kung pao chicken, which has a beautiful presentation, good cuts of meat and tangy sauce, and the fried rice with dried scallops and egg whites, which is an incredibly flavorful dish considering how simple it is. Some dishes, like the baby bok choy and the salt and pepper asparagus are also tasty but probably more fitting as table-sharing dishes rather than entrees for a single person. For the guy who would rather be at a steakhouse there is the prime sirloin with black pepper sauce, a meat-and-potatoes entree of sorts. In general, dishes range from $15.00 to $30.00.
An abbreviated menu is offered for lunch specials. This menu breaks several dishes into two simple price points, which makes ordering easy and sends people back on their way with minimal wait time.
Sushi is also an integral part of the Dragon Noodle Co. dining experience. Available every day of the week, the sushi rolls are certainly large enough to serve as meals. The chef specialty rolls, which run from $12.00 to $24.00, include the hot cha cha hamachi, which has a bit of a kick with jalepeños and ponzu. The jalepeño popper roll, which is stuffed with cream cheese, helps cut the spiciness. For dessert, options are fairly limited to sherberts and ice cream, but there is also a coffee menu for the relaxing post-dinner drink.
Dragon Noodle Co. & Sushi Bar has been in Monte Carlo for nearly 20 years but it underwent major renovations and reopened in September 2009. The dining room, which tucks itself off the nearby casino floor, offers table, booth and bar seating. A private dining room in the back of the restaurant is available for reservation by large parties. Dining is casual, and guests are welcome to walk up or make a reservation. Staff is friendly and exceptionally knowledgeable about the menu. As a bonus, they’re able and willing to answer questions regarding their favorite dishes, and they don’t mind taking time to snap photos of happy customers and their colorful drinks. In all aspects, eating at Dragon Noodle Co. is a well-rounded and good dining experience.
Photo credit: MCC Hospitality Group
