Is this my mama's Vietnamese home cooking? Not at all. But it is Chef Chrystina's Vietnamese American culinary experience and this is something I love and appreciate about the food. I've been here 3 times in one month already, each time enjoying a different menu item. The presentation is beautiful, the company of her and the staff are great, and the food really shines. It's family style dining and they don't skimp on the portions here. The flavors are robust, multi-dimensional, and adventurous. Here's what I've had: -Vietnamese goi salad: My favorite. It's fully loaded with shrimp, tofu, and chicken and is beautifully presented -Banh Bot Loc dumplings: not my mother's version but it's very good! -Cha gio imperial egg rolls: Also loaded and great with the pickled vegetables (in fact, I love all of the pickled vegetables) -Grilled fish lettuce wraps: So good and so fun to build your own wraps -Thit Kho: Deep flavors with spice...the bamboo shoots are so good! -Canh Chua: actually sour and not sweet! So many vegetables I enjoy following their instagram account to see what Chef Chrystina is creating today. When Durango Social Club posted Thit Kho, my husband and I came running. Really excited for what comes next for Durango Social Club and Chef Chrystina. read more

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After years and years of Other Mama, Dan Krohmer has come full circle by finally partnering with Mama. Durango Social Club is a concept by Krohmer that originally launched with his menu, went into a long pop-up phase, and recently promoted the formerly retired chef Crystina "Mama" Nguyen from temporary to permanent installation. As such, this is mainly a review of DSC as her four nights-a-week concept, currently named on the menu as Mama's at Durango Social Club. Largely consisting of Vietnamese favorites with some twists, the selection of dishes is relatively small and focused, as well as often changing as chef Mama actively develops and experiments. Rumor has it (read: chef said so) that there's something special to come in about two weeks. The foods described on the menu which I read felt mostly very accessible while remaining grounded in tradition. Hainanese Chicken Skins ($12) are a great appetizer. Although not perfectly airy, these skins pretty crispy. The ginger-scallion sauce is fun but is a little tamer in ginger than I would have expected. Pro tip: lemon doesn't come with it, but if you've asked for lemon for other reasons such as flavoring water, it can help alleviate any greasiness you may experience on the skins. Oc, aka Sea Snails ($26), are probably the most adventurous item on the menu. They are differently chewy than other seafoods, so if you are picky texture-wise, you might wanna avoid it? I enjoyed the mild contributions of the simmering broth, the intensity of the ginger fish sauce, and the vibrancy of the Vietnamese coriander. Cha Gio ($16) appeared in the middle of the meal compliments of the chef. I'm glad that I tried them since the ground turkey actually make a great, clean filling that can soak up the dipping sauce. Don't forget to wrap with fresh lettuce and add herbs! Bo Luc Lac Salad ($26) was every bit as flavorful as any version of this shaking beef dish which I've had. Instead of using the mundane rice, Mama decided to add in a delightfully airy and crunchy rice cracker. And the sauteed watercress is a truly inspired addition that adds texture and vibrancy. Ca Ri Vit ($36) is a dish that feels, to me, kinda similar to khao soi. It's got soft egg noodles, a heaping mound of fresh crispy noodles, and even mustard greens. The dish is surprisingly heavy though, and more importantly, the duck often felt too chewy. Maybe some of the skin/fat bits needed more rendering? The pickled red onions and the lime for squeezing did help lighten the flavor profile, so don't forget those. (Com Ga Roti is an incomplete since we were too full to touch it at all. Might edit to add impressions later.) Mama also gave each of us a small bowl of vegetable broth, the major component of her current soup of the day, along with a chunk of daikon. Loved the rich mushroom character in it, didn't super enjoy that the salt felt a little heavy as I proceeded with the broth and with getting full from everything. Just a pinch less would be ideal for me. And even after packing up leftovers, we received some desserts on the house. The Banh Cafe Trung ($10) was a delightful, custardy treat with plenty of coffee and caramel. The Sesame Mochi Donut (normal dish $9) looked like a Chinese donut but had a gooey mochi filling, and it was also delicious. Both are definitely worth enjoying. I really wanted the experience to be better. On top of some of the dishes not being ideal, the service was a bit problematic. We didn't receive (nor were we charged for) the iced tea which we requested, my water definitely dropped too low at least once, and we waited a bit too long before being able to request a dish change (from Mama though, not from our server). And the music, incongruity between island-type music and a Vietnamese setting aside, was a little too loud for the relatively small weeknight crowd. Utensils deserve a whole separate paragraph, unfortunately. No serving utensils were provided for any dish until we requested some near the end. It's a little wild to expect a whole table to pick at every dish with chopsticks, especially when those are some of the lowest-quality disposable chopsticks you can find. Nice reusable plastic ones would be great, but at least some higher-quality single-use utensils would deliver a better first impression. Mama's at Durango Social House is a highly promising concept that does deliver some of the best Vietnamese food in town, and it's clear beyond her words that Mama does cook with love, but that's a really low bar when the town is Las Vegas. The restaurant execution needs some refinement of some of the restaurant basics, and the flavors are often great but not fully dialed in. Definitely come here for the food if you want a different Vietnamese experience than the typical generic Pho 12345 though, just give them some leeway as if they were still in a soft opening phase since it sorta feels that way. read more

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Wow, the best Vietnamese food in Vegas for sure. Chef Crystina Nguyen is in house, so you are eating every dish straight from the chef's hands. That's so rare in Vegas where everything is outsourced. The website hasn't caught up to the restaurant, so I was only planning on coming for a snack. It turns out she had about 10 different "special of the day" dishes that all looked amazing. We ordered: - fried chicken skin with scallion oil: so unique and flavorful - ca nuong (fried seabass) came with all the sides including fresh banh hoi and herbs. I don't eat Mam nem, but hers was so good I was scooping it. - banh bot lot: traditionally made. I love how she removed the shell on the shrimp! - roasted quail: best I've ever had. The quail was fat and juicy. - cha gio: made with ground turkey using traditional clear wrap. No idea how she got ground tender so fluffy and moist - canh chua: perfectly balanced - egg coffee pie : MUST get! We felt like we were eating at a friend's home....if our friend was an amazing chef with a beautiful home. Thank you to Chef Crystina and Dale for an amazing evening. We'll be back often to try the rotating menu. What a fun twist to date night, not knowing what's in store each time. read more

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This is the type of place all restaurants should model themselves after. Delicious food created by a friendly and talented chef, welcoming staff and a rotating menu. While I've had the typical Vietnamese dishes, I had never tried curry before. I loved the favor... more like a Japanese style and it worked well with the short ribs. I'd also get the shrimp/ chicken salad again. We had a wonderful time and the dishes were paced nicely so we weren't rushed. read more

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Wonderful experience lots of amazing fresh flavors that made me come back for more the next night, if you like authentic Vietnamese food prepared with love..... THIS IS YOUR SPOT ! read more

There is a pop up by Chef Hemant Kishore, a native of Trivandrum, State of Kerala, India, On Thursday and Friday from 5 PM to 9 PM, Chef Kishore is doing several South Indian dishes from Kerala, the southwestern most state in India. This pop up is at the Durango Social Club. I have known Chef for several years and was anxious to try some new authentic South Indian dishes. I use the word authentic even though I generally see it used to describe American style food of some other cuisine that's not really authentic. This IS authentic! First, getting there wasn't easy. There is no sign. I knew I was in the right strip mall but I could see no sign. I stopped ina couople of stores. At a boba shop, the owner looked on his phone and the directory gave him the suite number. He shared it with me and told me where it was. The only sign that you're at the correct place are the decals on the doors which are DSC. It is the last suite in the building on the north side of the plaza. I tried two dishes--an appetizer and a main. For the appetizer I got the Kerala beef fry. I was assured that it was a small amount;. It was just perfect. There was a bit of spiciness to it but more important, there was a mixture of spices used in cooking in Southern India, What a great flavor!! For the main course, I got appam and Kerala ishtu. The appam are fermented coconut rice crèpes. The ishtu is a coconut stew that originated in Kerala. To eat, generally you rip pieces of the appam and dip it in the stew/soup. The soup is potato, carrot, and coconut milk. The appam gets the coconut flavor. When I finished my two appams, I used my spoon to finish the soup. What great spices used in this dish also. The coconut milk is beautifully flavored. I was so glad I came to Hemant's pop up. It will continue on Thursday and Friday (except for Christmas). Now that I know where to go., I'll go back to try some other Keralan specialties including the American chop suey, one of chef's favorite dishes when he lived in Trivandrum. The dishes are the kind you would get at a Toddy Shop. Thank you for a beautiful meal, Chef! read more

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Great experience at Durango Social Club! The food was excellent, and the service was incredibly friendly. Definitely a spot I'd come back to. Thanks Chef Crystina for a delicious dinner. read more

Durango Social Club - Egg coffee pie - Cocktail Bars Near Me - Las Vegas, Nevada

Toddy Shop at The Durango Social Club is Chef Hemant Kishore's Pop Up inspired by reimagined remakes of Kerala's Southern Indian bar food. Open Thursdays and Fridays from 5pm at this location and other venues TBD, this pop up delivered in full. Starting with some great personalized service which was excellent throughout we followed recommendations and had the Indi Puli Wings, Kerala Beef Fry, American Chop Suey & Appam & Kerala Ishto, all expertly prepared taste sensations. Kudos to James Beard-finalist chef & owner Dan Krohmer for creating this wonderful neighborhood dining space complete with visiting chef pop ups. We will return to experience other new pop ups and culinary collaborations as well as follow Chef Kishore. read more

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DSC has different pop up restaurants/residencies during the week..we tried the Toddy shop, by chef Hemant Kishore. This is every Thursday and Friday from 5-9 pm. He showcases some authentic dishes from the state of Kerala, India. This is not your standard butter chicken/naan type Indian food. We tried Inji puli chicken wings with tamarind, ginger and jaggery, Kerala beef fry, Vada, appam and Isthu. They also had tandoori chicken wings and Malabar parotta which was absolutely delicious. The Kerala beef fry was the best. Service is great! The bar serves beer, wine and some really creative cocktails. M&M old fashioned was great. read more

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Dinner at Durango Social Club was such a great experience! The food was absolutely amazing--every dish was flavorful and beautifully presented. The staff truly went above and beyond to make the night special, with attentive and friendly service from start to finish. The atmosphere was vibrant yet relaxed, making it perfect for a night out. Definitely a spot I'll be coming back to.....again! read more

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The best and most authentic Vietnamese food we've ever had. The service is warm and welcoming and every dish was filled with amazing flavor. Definitely coming back! read more

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The Durango Social Club by Chef and owner Dan Krohmer-also of Other Mama- posted to the Restaurant Week 2026 official website a $50 four course dinner; the first three courses would feature a choice of dish from then-resident Chef Tyler Vorce of Lilli and future-resident Chef Crystina Nguyen of This Mama's House. However, at the time of my reservation, Chef Tyler's residency had concluded, and his menu offerings were replaced with dishes from Chefs Crystina and Dan. The format also changed from choosing courses to receiving the entire menu. Due to platform character limit, brief statement that all the offerings were fantastic. Plates from Chef Crystina (C) or Chef Dan (D) Dishes An off-menu, full-size, starter, a mash-up of a deep fried Spring Roll* (C) stuffed with ground turkey on a lettuce wrap of julienned pickled vegetables. Steamed Tapioca Dumplings* (C): Three full-sized sealed tubes stuffed with meaty mushrooms. Watercress & Shrimp Soup (C): Somehow light and hearty at the same time. Mama's Cabbage Salad (C): Crunchy, light pickle, and subtle sweetness from the giant cracker. Bluefin Tuna Crudo (D): Four thick bite-sized slices, very clean and brightened by the Anvil EVOO. By this point I had hit the wall. 5 Spice Fried Chicken* **(C): Juicy meat on hefty thigh and leg encased in crackling skin, huge scoops of fragrant jasmine rice, with light pickle from sliced cukes and red onions. Braised Short Rib** (D): Four very tender slices in their robust juices. The Dessert Course was a huge slice of fluffy and creamy Vietnamese Egg Coffee Pie, from local online bakery Pop N pies, drizzled in chocolate and adorned with two crisp graham crackers onsite. *Accompanying sauces were intense/delicious. **Had plenty of takeaway and the leftovers held up very well. Also, not part of Restaurant Week, Bodegas Eidosela Néboa, Rías Baixas Albariño ($15 gls): Free-flowing pour. Value: Unbelievable. Gigantic portions, beautiful flavors, simple but effective presentations. Atmosphere: Still meh on the decor, but just background noise to the extremely convivial atmosphere generated by the Chefs, with anecdotes, environmental influences, creative thought processes, and all around celebration of excellent food. Kudos also to Kitchen Manager chef Josh for non-stop culinary hustle throughout the night. read more

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I checked out the Chinese Laundry pop-up at Durango Social Club and ordered most of the table snacks along with the mushroom mazemen ramen. Overall, the experience was a bit underwhelming. The Chin Family egg rolls were actually the highlight. Nice pork and shrimp combo with a peanut crunch and a very strong horseradish-style hot mustard. Definitely tasty. The kimchi arancini was decent but nothing memorable, although the hot mayo and caviar topping was nice. The whipped burrata with scallion pancake had a good flavor profile but again didn't really stand out. The mushroom mazemen ramen tasted great and oddly reminded me of a beef stroganoff with its richness. However, it was served a bit inconsistently -- someone else at our table ordered the same dish and received a king oyster mushroom while mine didn't. There was also a brief awkward moment where the cook tried to take the bowl back after I'd already grabbed it because they thought it went to another table. The surf and turf tartare unfortunately fell flat. It was mostly flavorless aside from the scallions and the texture was a little too smooth. I ended up sending it back, but the manager was very nice and took it off the bill. Service overall was good, the atmosphere at Durango Social Club is chill and comfortable, and the night was still fun because I was with good friends. In the end, the food wasn't bad -- but it wasn't great either. read more

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Very hospitable staff and the food is very expressive and creative. Loved the whole environment.

I was devastated when Vegas Test Kitchen closed because as a lover of food and unique concepts, it filled a need for me. Great news is Durango Social Club does the same with a bit of upscale flair. They offer regular residencies during the day and pop up's at night. Their space is bright and inviting with an open kitchen to watch the chefs work at the counter or relax at a table. The service was super friendly and helpful. I also love that they offer a space for concepts to be tried out on a larger scale. If you are a foodie like me with a curious palate, they are definitely worth checking out at least once. read more

Chef Dan Krohmer has knocked it out of the park with Durango Social Club. One seating each evening to experience a pre-fixe menu of curated selections that are each cooked to perfection. We opted for the wine pairing which complemented each dish exquisitely. The ambience of the space was dark and moody and the pace was perfect. We spent just over 3 hours here and that included an hour at the bar before the meal. I would highly recommend DSC of you are looking for high quality food in a cozy setting. Be it a special evening out, an anniversary, a birthday or simply catching up with friends -- this place is perfect! read more

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My boyfriend and I had a great experience at Lilli last night! Good ambiance, personable and attentive servers, and the food was delicious! I'd highly recommend the wine pairings, but they also had non-alcoholic pairings as well. read more

1/10 -- $150 per person for breaded, fried food and terrible service We came for the New Year's Eve $150 per person prix fixe menu, with no information provided in advance about what would be served. That lack of transparency set the tone for the night. The service was extremely disorganized. Staff appeared clueless, and there was only one server working the entire event. Dishes came out in a different order than what was listed on the table menu, and every time food arrived we were asked whether we had already received it or if we wanted another. The answer was always absolutely not. The open kitchen made the situation worse. Plates and drinks sat out for long periods, un-iced oysters were left on the counter, and trays with 20 puff pastries were just sitting there. We had to ask multiple times for water and refills. I dropped a knife after the first course, and it sat in the open walkway for the entire 2.5 hours we were there--never picked up. Most of the food was completely unappealing. Nearly everything was breaded and fried, with no vegetables, no proper sides, and no dessert. We barely finished any of the plates. The website advertised: "Spend your New Year's Eve at the Club with a full view of the Strip fireworks and some of the best bites off the boulevard." There were no views of the Strip, no fireworks, and certainly no "best bites." This was one of the worst meals of 2025 and an awful way to end the year. The last meal of 2025 was $150+ per person garbage. We will not be returning to these chefs or DSC, and it wouldn't be surprising if this place goes out of business. We left early reaking of fried food. read more

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