Most visitors and newcomers to Reno are steered toward the popular, walkable Midtown district, or naturally wander downtown Reno for sights, snacks and bars. Downtown Sparks has a lot of charm, especially during events. There are a lot of good restaurants in all of these neighborhoods, and they’re easy to find.
That said, we’re in a metro area where most residential neighborhoods are car-dependent—and a lot of the best local dining takes place in strip malls.
In strip malls old and new, all around the region, you’ll find neighborhood favorites and restaurants that are worth a trip across town, including a wide range of places that serve international fare.
Here’s a way-too-brief list of tried-and-true strip-mall eateries to get you started. Keep an eye out as you travel around town—there are many more.
SF Kitchen
1775 Mill St.
I have had many bar debates about the best Vietnamese in Reno; pho loyalties run deep, after all. But for me, SF Kitchen wins the battle of the broths. Try the oxtail pho with juicy, meaty nuggets and loads of fresh basil; I also love the crunchy combination of fried wontons in the fried wor wonton soup. I can’t place an order without the summer roll appetizer—think warm, tangy pork and crispy rice noodles rolled in rice paper with a light, sweet chili sauce. The belle of the ball, however, is the broth used for the steak and oxtail pho. It’s rich with deep, roasted baking spices such as star anise and clove. It’s so tasty that I never put in an order without asking for an additional broth or two to save in the freezer. —MK
R Town Pizza
180 W. Peckham Lane, No. 1100
www.rtownpizza.com
I never knew how much I loved Detroit-style pan pizza until R Town opened in 2022. The rectangular pizzas’ crunchy, caramelized edges are so good that you might be disappointed if you don’t get a corner piece—and yes, I am that person who will take two corner pieces at a time. What can I say? I’m an opportunist. There are more than 20 pizza options, including great vegetarian pies, as well as appetizers and grinders. I can’t seem to stray from the pizza, though, especially the Three One Three, with perfect pepperoni cups, a rich tomato sauce and parmesan cheese. R Town also has pinball machines, making it great for kids—and a full bar for adults! —MK
Tofu House
1021 Steamboat Parkway, Suite 180
www.tofuhousereno.com
I’m not a vegetarian, but I do have a list of great vegetarian dishes I will never pass up. On the very top of that list is the vegetable soft tofu soup at Tofu House, near The Home Depot at Damonte Ranch and Steamboat parkways. This Korean comfort-food masterpiece is served boiling in a small pot, with a raw egg on the side. Crack in the egg; stir to cook it; and you have a silky, hearty soup that’s spicy, sweet and smoky. Tofu House serves a wide range of other Korean dishes, including delicious japchae with beef or pork. A delightful “whole” fried chicken (actually a generous pile of white and dark meat chunks) is close in style to a Southern fried chicken if you order it plain; if you order it with Korean sauce, it’s sweet, sticky and gently spicy. The half-and-half option is ideal. It’s that hard to choose. —KV
Casa Grande Mexican Restaurant and Cantina
1655 Robb Drive, Suite 1
4796 Caughlin Parkway
www.casagranderestaurant.com
Proximity to our house initially led my partner and me to Casa Grande—there are two locations, and the one we go to is at Caughlin Parkway and McCarran Boulevard—but the friendly service, food and skinny margaritas (made from scratch, not a mix) keep us coming back. Those margaritas are served tableside, with individual Mason-jar shakers left for you to pour at your leisure. Start off with the refreshing shrimp cocktail—shrimp swimming in a peppery lime juice with onions and avocado, served traditional style, in a large glass with saltine crackers. —MK
Moo Dang
1565 S. Virginia St.
www.moodang.com
While Reno has a few great Thai spots, I love Moo Dang’s fresh, unique ingredients. Spring rolls are stuffed with chunks of shitake mushrooms, and stir-fried entrees include thick cuts of veggies like celery and wood ear mushrooms that are still a little crisp, rather than soggy with sauce. Classics like pad Thai are delicious, but less-common dishes such as Sukothai noodle soup—made with sliced and ground pork in a tangy, chili-lime broth—make Moo Dang stand out. I’m not sure how they do it, but the blue-crab fried rice is somehow light and delicate, making it surprisingly crushable for what can sometimes be a heavy dish. —MK
Edelweiss Pizza, Pub & Pastries
13979 S. Virginia St., Suite 505
www.edelweisspub.com
Among the chain eateries at Shayden Summit mall, there are also a few locally owned independents. Behind one beige mall storefront, Edelweiss Pizza, Pub and Pastries is a cozy wonderland of elegant, fun décor—think antler chandeliers and the kind of dark, flowery wallpaper you’d see in an architecture magazine. The menu features fantastic versions of European classics like schnitzel, spaetzle and strudels, while the draft-beer list showcases imports and local brews. And if you get to the dessert menu and wonder, “Do chocolate ganache and apricots really go together?” this chocoholic says yes to the Sacher torte every time. —KV
Paolo’s Deli
900 W. Moana Lane, No. 101
Follow Paolo’s Deli Reno on Facebook
Paolo’s Deli sits on the corner of Moana Lane and Warren Way and has been supporting my mortadella addiction for a few years now—this family-owned deli sells it by the pound. Meaty classics like the meatball sandwich and the “Italian Stallion” are house staples, but the roasted eggplant, pepper and provolone can hold its own as a hearty veggie sandwich. Paolo’s is also a go-to when I don’t feel like cooking, featuring an entrée case stocked with lasagna with meat or marinara sauce, and eggplant Parmigiana. A small grocery area includes specialty Italian pastas, sauces and sodas. Don’t forget a tiramisu on your way out—you won’t regret it. —MK
El Rincón
668 Greenbrae Drive, Sparks
This cheery, casual Salvadoran eatery is tucked away in the nondescript Greenbrae Commons shopping center, just north of downtown Sparks. It’s easy to miss—but, really, don’t miss it. The fresh, pillowy pupusas are my pick as the best in town. Choose from a list of fillings including cheese, beans and loroco, an edible flower native to El Salvador. You can order a plate of three, topped with curtido (a lightly fermented cabbage condiment) or a combo that comes with fried yucca or plantains. —KV
Palais de Jade
960 W. Moana Lane
www.palaisdejadereno.net
This Chinese restaurant has long been on my family’s list of regular dining spots. When I was a kid, the plush booths and low lighting made it our go-to for a fancy night for egg drop soup and honey glazed walnut shrimp. Now that I am an adult, I appreciate the full bar—it’s a great spot to order takeout and have a drink while you wait and catch up on end-of-the-day emails. Our cabinets are full of quart containers from to-go orders of the wor wonton soup—a tasty mix of pork wontons, chicken, beef, shrimp and veggies. —MK
The Alibi Lounge and Los 4 Vientos
125 Casazza Drive
145 Casazza Drive
www.los4vientosnv.com
We can’t leave out this strip-mall duo—a bar and a taco place next to each other behind Reno Public Market. The Alibi Lounge is open 24 hours, so it’s long been a favorite spot for bartenders (myself included once upon a time) and casino workers for after-shifters. The Alibi, one of Reno’s only still-smoking bars, has an old-school dive vibe with a bar staff who, if you give them the chance, will soon know your name. For whiskey enthusiasts, there’s a damn good selection. And when you need a snack, you can grab some tacos quesabirria or a burrito de pastor at Los 4 Vientos, two doors down and open until 10 p.m. on weekends. —MK