One of the easiest cuisines to enjoy if you're a vegan or vegetarian is Chinese! Because the food rarely includes dairy in the ingredients list, it's easy to find plenty of food to enjoy. For ovo-vegetarians, there's a whole world out there to discover but vegans need to ask a few extra questions. One of our favorite restaurants (for take out & dine in) is Grand China. With 7 locations in Las Vegas, there's probably one close to you. The best part about this restaurant is that the staff is very knowledgeable about the ingredients in the sauces & soups, so I never feel funny asking very specific questions.
We begin with Appetizers. There are only 2 app's that vegetarians can enjoy (only one for vegans): Fried Wonton & Vegetable Spring Rolls. The fried wonton (which I had eaten while previously lacto-vegetarian) have green onion & cream cheese inside. Yes, they are mighty delicious, but obviously not for a vegan. I have been assured that all food is cooked in vegetable oil. My only worry is what else has been cooked in the vegetable oil other than vegetables? Sometimes I choose not to think about it...
Soups are another story. There are NO Veg*n friendly soups on the menu. Don't be seduced by Bean Curd & Vegetable Soup. It sounds vegetarian, but it is not: it's chicken broth. I thought about saying something to the chef about this on our next visit, but I'm not sure how obnoxious or pretentious I actually need to be in this lifetime...
Skip ahead to the Moo-Shu and you'll see Vegetable Moo-Shu. Hoisin sauce is vegetarian by nature, but I do wonder about the crepes - are they egg or dairy based? I haven't ordered these so I cannot tell you for sure. Ask your server.
What I have ordered is the Vegetable Fried Rice and requested that no egg be added. Again, not an eyelash batted by our server at this request. The fried rice is filled with broccoli, carrots, peas, green onions, zucchini... a meal all on its own!
We arrive at the best section in the menu: Vegetables. Check this out:
+ Vegetable Deluxe: stir-fried broccoli, snow peas, carrots, napa cabbage, mushrooms, zucchini & water chestnuts
+ Sauteed Broccoli: in a light wine sauce
+ Ma-Po Tofu: Szechuan style bean curd with mushrooms, carrots, ginger & peas
+ Braised Bean Curd with Brown Sauce: with snow peas, carrots, napa cabbage & straw mushrooms
Sweet & Sour Eggplant: with green bell peppers, pineapples, carrots & onions
Eggplant Szechuan Style: with water chestnuts, bamboo shoots, mushrooms, zucchini & carrots
String Bean Szechuan Style: with white onion
Sauteed Chinese Green (Shanghai Bok Choy): in light wine sauce
Snow Pea with Water Chestnuts: in a light wine sauce
+ Taste-tested & approved by The Vegas Vegan!!
I highly recommend finding a Grand China for all your Veg*n needs & desires.
GRAND CHINA:
7 Locations in Las Vegas:
4444 W. Craig Rd., #126
N. Las Vegas, NV 89032
8450 Farm Rd., #150
Las Vegas, NV 89131
7045 W. Ann Rd., #110
Las Vegas, NV 89130
3000 W. Ann Rd., #109
N. Las Vegas, NV 89031
(702) 839-3688
(702) 839-4408
7250 S. Durango Rd., #160
Las Vegas, NV 89113
75 E. Horizon Ridge Pkwy, #120
Henderson, NV 89015
7320 S. Rainbow Blv. #107
Las Vegas, NV 89139
