Ichiza

Ichiza is Vegas Chinatown's legendary late-night izakaya, open from Thursday through Tuesday, 5pm to 10:30am, which is absolutely insane and exactly what this city needs. This is where industry folks, night owls, and anyone who's ever craved yakitori at 4am end up. It's chaotic, it's loud, it's packed with regulars, and it's one of the most authentic Japanese drinking experiences you'll find in Vegas. If you've never done the izakaya thing, Ichiza's your crash course.

The Izakaya Philosophy

Izakayas are Japanese pubs—casual spots designed for drinking and snacking with friends after work. Ichiza nails that energy: small plates meant for sharing, extensive sake and beer lists, and an atmosphere that encourages you to order too much food and stay too long. The menu's massive, the portions are small (in a good way—it means you get to try more shit), and everything's designed to pair with alcohol. This is social drinking at its finest.

The Insane Hours

5pm to 10:30am. Let that sink in. Ichiza stays open through the night and well into the next morning, which makes it a magnet for casino workers post-shift, bartenders after close, and degenerates who refuse to go home. You'll see the crowd shift throughout the night: early evening brings families and normal humans, midnight brings the industry crowd, 4am brings the "we're still going" energy. It's one of Vegas's best late-night food options that isn't a 24-hour diner.

What to Order

The menu's overwhelming, so here's the move: get yakitori (grilled skewers), karaage (fried chicken), takoyaki (octopus balls), and whatever specials they're running. Order a round of sake or some Sapporo. Then order more skewers. The yakitori's the star—perfectly grilled, seasoned just right, and incredibly addictive. Don't skip the weird stuff like chicken hearts or cartilage if you're adventurous. The kitchen knows what it's doing, so trust the process.

The Chinatown Dining Scene

Vegas Chinatown is legit—not tourist-focused, not watered down, just actual Asian food for the massive Asian population that lives here. Ichiza fits perfectly into that ecosystem: it's busy, loud, authentic, and packed with people who know the menu by heart. You'll hear multiple languages, see plates flying out of the kitchen at lightning speed, and feel like you're part of something real instead of performative.

The Late-Night Essential

If you work nights, party late, or just operate on vampire hours, Ichiza is one of your best bets for quality food when most places are closed. The fact that they're serving grilled skewers and hot sake at 6am is genuinely impressive. It's become a ritual for a lot of locals—post-shift Ichiza runs are a thing. The energy at 3am on a Saturday is unmatched.

Ichiza isn't polished or quiet or trying to impress anyone—it's just really damn good at being an izakaya. Loud, chaotic, delicious, and open when you need it most. Vegas would be a lesser city without it.