For 105 years, Wilson Tang’s family has been folding dumplings, steaming buns and serving up “a little bit of heart” to New Yorkers. For the first time in its storied history, Nom Wah—the first and oldest dim sum restaurant in the U.S.—is expanding west at the JW Marriott resort in Summerlin.
“This restaurant brand has been in my family forever, and it’s really an honor to be able to bring a taste of New York to the suburbs of Las Vegas,” Tang says. “I think the easy choice would have been doing something in San Francisco and LA, but I think I’m drawn to a smaller market in some way, and ... where there is also a large Asian community as well.”
Wilson Tang, owner and CEO of Nom Wah
What sealed the deal for Tang was the community feel at the Summerlin location. “During our numerous visits, what I saw were the people who lived in the neighborhood. And that really hits home for me, as a dad, as a community person, that’s really what I’m doing it for,” he says.
The original Nom Wah Tea Parlor opened during Prohibition, survived the Great Depression, World War II and countless waves of gentrification. It has been a neighborhood landmark, serving generations the same hand-folded dumplings from a family recipe.
Nom Wah’s famous dumplings ($9-$10)—the pork, chicken and shrimp varieties that Tang says “put us on the map”—anchor the offerings alongside soup dumplings ($9) and bao buns ($10-$14). The Peking duck buns ($14) are especially notable; tender, shredded duck tucked into a soft bao might be one of the most flavorful bites you’ve ever had. Dip everything in the house-made dumpling sauce—a little salty, a little tangy, a little spicy, all perfectly umami.
While the menu isn’t extensive, classic dim sum dishes like pork and shrimp siu mai ($9.50) and scallion pancakes ($9) are here. The turnip cakes with a taro crust ($9.50), with their contrasting textures and gentle flavor, are a standout. Vegas-exclusive menu items include wonton noodle soup ($15) and lo mein noodles ($13), with intentional nods to our gambling culture.
“Wontons or dumplings are very auspicious because they look like gold nuggets,” Tang says. “And noodles—the more noodles you eat, it’s good luck, prosperity, long life. So we’re instituting some auspicious foods for the gamers coming to the hotel.”
Dim sum, literally meaning “to touch the heart,” represents a dining philosophy that prizes conversation over speed, community over convenience. It’s a tradition Tang takes seriously while embracing the necessary evolution of a modern eatery. The counter-style seating with red barstools evokes an old-school tea parlor, creating an intimate and nostalgic atmosphere that feels like a time capsule from Manhattan’s Chinatown. After more than a century of serving one neighborhood, Nom Wah is finally ready to share its family secrets in ours.
“At the end of the day, we’re really just trying to bring a slice of Chinese-American dim sum from New York to Vegas,” Tang says.
NOM WAH JWMarriott, 702-507-5900, theresortatsummerlin.com. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
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