Las Vegas Mixtape v56: Music/Celebrity Merger, New Alchemy, and Motor City Pizza — Track #5 (of 5): Around Town Medley: Chinatown 20 Awards @COYA Living and Huey Magoo’s @Suncoast

Track #5 (of 5): Around Town Medley: Chinatown 20 Awards @COYA Living and Huey Magoo’s @Suncoast

Chinatown Vegas keeps rising. L-R: Joe Muscaglione, Chef Brian (Sparrow + Wolf) Howard, food influencer Brandon Johnson, and Ruby Anne, host of “Chinatown Vegas” via YouTube. (Image: Courtesy of Chinatown Vegas)

Tonight All Shook Up 6:00 PM · Athena Showlounge, Alexis Park Get tickets

Hats off to visionary Joe Muscaglione of ShangHai Taste and the Chinatown Vegas brand (YouTube, website, and socials). Known for his boundless, highly caffeinated energy, he organized the first-ever “Chinatown 20 Awards Ceremony & Culinary Reception,” held on the ground floor of the luxury apartment complex, COYA Living (in Chinatown of course).

The evening honored the top content creators who've helped put Chinatown here on the map including Philip Tzeng and Brandon Johnson whose Instagram posts are reliably smart and lively. The event was also notable for the specially curated taste bud-awakening bites from Chinatown’s top chefs including Brian Howard of Sparrow + Wolf.

Experience freedom from anxiety here. (Image: Vegas 411)

Related: Las Vegas Mixtape v53: ‘80s Resurrection, Indo-Chinese Delights, and Vital Local Sounds

Some days you just gotta have fried chicken tenders. A new place to scratch this itch is Huey Magoo's. It’s one of the two spots at Quick Bites, the new roomy food hall with comfortable seating over at the Suncoast Hotel and Casino (the other food concept there is Steak ‘n Shake). 

Very happy to report that Magoo’s—a central Florida-originated chain with 90-plus locations including a second Vegas spot downtown at the Fremont Hotel—delivered the fried buzz I was jonesing for. I went with their wonderfully flavored chicken tenders with the house dip, crinkle cut fries, and Texas toast. 

Direct from central Florida and now in Vegas. (Image: Vegas 411)

No disappointments here on my first outing—just feelings of deep satisfaction about what they’re offering, in their words: “hand-breaded chicken tenders are made fresh using only the best 3% of the chicken—the tenderloin—then elevated with our secret seasoning blend and simple ingredients like eggs, flour and milk, with no shortcuts.”  

You can also opt for the fried tenders in sandwiches, wraps, and salads. Wash it all down with their southern sweet tea or lemonade—and save your guilt for another day.