General Tso’s chicken wings at F.A.M.E.
Inside the Linq, 3545 Las Vegas Blvd. S., 702-906-1672
It takes a lot to get me down to the Strip these days, especially for Asian cuisine, given that Spring Mountain overflows with mysterious and intriguing eateries. One dish that’s eluded me: Korean-style chicken wings. Recently, I found my new favorite flavored fowl in the valley inside F.A.M.E. at the Linq, an Asian night market-inspired concept (read: food court with Chinese drum circles). The wings are twice-fried in the traditional Korean dakgangjeong style, creating a crunchy crust, which is then painted with a sweet and savory General Tso sauce. Bursts of tangy orange and sharp ginger surge in every bite, while a red chili kicker reminds you to pace yourself. Beneath that thin candy shell, juicy, tender chicken awaits.
Shroomin’ in Philly at SkinnyFATS
6261 Dean Martin Drive #29, 702-979-9797, skinnyfats.com
The Shroomin’ in Philly is a vegetarian take on Philadelphia’s most famous son, the cheesesteak, substituting sliced portobello mushrooms and feta chunks for chest pain and liquid cholesterol. The mushrooms are skillet-sauteed with onions and peppers, stuffed into a wheat hoagie bun and drizzled with a sweet balsamic glaze. Heaping portions of sizzling veggies overflow with every bite, leaving a meal-sized load of shrapnel on your plate — and no guilt. While this trim alternative will never replace the original, it’s a delicious change of pace that sits much lighter in your stomach.