LAS VEGAS — The inaugural Chinatown Creator Awards, held August 27 at COYA Living, attracted an over-capacity crowd of photographers, videographers, food personalities, and community leaders, recognizing the digital storytellers who have helped elevate the Spring Mountain Road corridor into a cultural and culinary destination.
Co-hosted by COYA Living, the luxury apartment community at Chinatown’s eastern gateway, and ChinatownVegas.com, the private reception honored 20 creators for their impact on the neighborhood’s visibility and economic vitality. Writer, film director, and City Cast correspondent Jason Harris emceed the evening, which celebrated honorees in five groups, mirroring their earlier introduction in the ‘This Week in Chinatown’ series.
Among those honored were @lasvegasfill, @brandonfromvegas, @wheretogovegas, @therubyontherocks, @baileyzeats, @withlove_christine, @tiny_pennguin, @giselliii93, @tiarappgyo, @antonio_loves_wings, @heydonnah, @ceslynne, @shekuni_lv, and @studiosealv. Each received a custom plaque commemorating their contributions.
“The creators honored through these awards have done far more than post about restaurants,” said Joe Muscaglione, founder of ChinatownVegas.com and Chinatown Amplify. “They’ve helped build awareness of the corridor as a whole, turning individual businesses into destinations.”
The event’s culinary showcase highlighted the neighborhood’s gastronomic depth. Sparrow + Wolf and Lamaii, both fresh off MICHELIN Guide recommendations reported by Las Vegas Weekly, offered samples. Chef Brian Howard of Sparrow + Wolf served a smoky, wood-fired Isaan sausage with fermented green mango and perilla leaf, while Lamaii presented a garlicky crispy prawn. Chef Steve Kestler of Aroma Latin American Cocina crafted a citrus-forward Chinatown Ceviche exclusively for the reception. “It was an honor to be part of this great community event,” Kestler said.
Other participating eateries included Shanghai Taste, Double Zero Pie & Pub, China Mama, Mama’s House × Durango Social Club, O.Onigiri, Noodlehead, Charismatic Yo, Mochi!, Moignet Café, and Milk Bread. Beverages were provided by The Alchemist Bar & Restaurant, with wine and champagne poured by longtime industry veteran Paul Ellis.
Notable guests included rock photographer David Plastik, whose work has appeared in Rolling Stone, RIP, and Creem, and legendary music publicist Mitch Schneider, known for representing David Bowie, Ozzy Osbourne, Aerosmith, and Tom Petty. Schneider later described the event on Facebook as a “meaningful event” honoring creators “who’ve helped put Las Vegas Chinatown on the map.”
The recognition comes as Las Vegas Chinatown sees approximately 23.9 million visits annually and is home to 248 verified sit-down restaurants, along with cafés, markets, spas, and nightlife venues. “It’s 23.9 million visits a year – more than some countries and more than most cities – all concentrated in one neighborhood,” Muscaglione said. “These creators have helped the world see why.”
The Chinatown Creator Awards were established to formally acknowledge the independent photographers, videographers, food voices, and community storytellers whose work has consistently spotlighted the corridor. Their coverage has helped transform local businesses into destinations and positioned Chinatown as one of Las Vegas’ most closely watched neighborhoods.
ChinatownVegas.com is presenting complete coverage of the awards in a special edition of ‘This Week in Chinatown,’ including a written report and companion video episode. Subsequent editions will be released together every Monday.
