Las Vegas Weekly

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Brock Radke

Wed, Dec 21, 2011 (6:16 p.m.)

It’s cold. The best thing about the few chilly months in Vegas is the chance to cozy up with some warming winter foods. In fact, maximum enjoyment of soulful soups and spicy noodles might be the only good thing about December in the desert. Here’s what I’ve been eating to fight the freeze.

Pho Little Saigon has locations in Chinatown and Henderson, and it’s a big, cafeteria-style room perfect for family dining. The classic Vietnamese beef broth soup, pho, may not vary much from place to place, but the service is fast and friendly here and the soup is beyond satisfying. Order the No. 21 for eight bucks, with brisket, tendon, tripe and beef balls, if you really want to gear up for hibernation.

Steiner’s Nevada Style Pub, another multi-stop locals’ favorite, serves up a mean bowl of chili. Thick, rich, deep-brown and stocked with diced sirloin and black beans, a bowl of this stuff will heat you up in a hurry. Be sure to ask for melted cheddar and raw onions on top.

I finally made it to Downtown’s Fremont East to see if the new Le Thai restaurant is worth the hype. After one bowl of pad Thai noodles, I’m a believer. Spicy-sour and piled high with juicy chicken and crisp peanuts and bean sprouts, this is one of the best-ever versions of this popular dish. I could eat it for lunch every day, and I might.