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$$ | Downtown |
Noodles are the house specialty at this intimate restaurant in the Fremont East district of Downtown. Although most of the dishes are Thai (try the Awesome Noodles; the name isn't hyperbole), others lean more toward Chinese and Japanese influences. Also worth trying: the decadent Short Rib Fried Rice. Whatever you order, request "spicy" dishes at your own risk; chefs here spice things up the way they'd like to eat them, not the way you'd like to eat them. The restaurant itself is truly tiny, with only a handful of tables and seating at the bar, but a large patio with pergola covering is complete with misters for summer and heaters for winter. The patio hosts a DJ and serves a late-night menu Thursday through Sunday. (Le Thai's success led to Chef Dan Coughlin opening a sister restaurant, 8 East, inside the new Circa Resort & Casino.)
523 Fremont St. E, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89101, USA
Known For
- Tiny spot with expansive patio
- Some other Asian influences
- Awesome Noodles really are
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Tues. No lunch Sun.
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$$ | West Side |
Seating is at a premium in this softly lighted strip mall robata, a favorite of almost every chef in town. At 6 pm sharp every day but Sunday, doors open for small-plate offerings of creamy house-made tofu, fresh sashimi (no sushi), and savory grilled meats, fish, and veggies (cooked over charcoal imported from Japan) that reflect the culinary mastery of its Tokyo-born owner-chef. An efficient waitstaff will visit your table to describe the spendy chalkboard specials and also to suggest which seasonings—which include five soy sauces, three salts, and four sugars—will best accent a particular dish. An ample list of sake (including a monthly sampler of three) and à-la-carte menu items, such as the sashimi salad, Kobe beef liver sashimi, and steamed foie gras egg custard, is also provided. Raku also offers omakase, which showcases the chef's choice of the best dishes each day. Raku Sweets, in the same shopping plaza, offers a few elaborate desserts and some savory dishes.
5030 W. Spring Mountain Rd., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89146, USA
Known For
- Agedashi tofu, robata foods
- Daily specials
- Cozy atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch
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$$ | West Side |
Fans of Thai food flock here for spot-on exceptional chow with few surprises—just expertly prepared curries, tom yum soups, fish cakes, and pad Thais. In particular, the shrimp "ginger ginger ginger" (or you can choose it with meat or tofu) has drawn raves; yes, it really is that gingery. Locals rank Archi's among the best Thai restaurants in town. Reasonably priced three-course lunch specials are served from 11 am to 3 pm weekdays. There are three other branches at 6345 S. Rainbow Boulevard, 9350 W. Sahara Avenue, and a fast-casual spot at 9310 S. Eastern Avenue.
6360 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89103, USA
Known For
- Carefully executed Thai classics
- Thai iced tea
- Lovely interiors
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$$ | |
What warms the blood more swiftly at this down-home hang: the fresh-from-the-oven biscuits or the 80-plus varieties of bourbon? Find out at this unique addition to the ongoing refurbishment of the Water Street District in downtown Henderson, where you will find drinks served in Mason jars and a menu of smoked meats, from pulled pork to apple-brined chicken, in big portions. The biscuits are served à la carte with your choice of flavored butters, honeys, and jams. (You can't go wrong with the classic buttermilk biscuits topped with apple cider caramel butter, clover honey, and mango habanero jam.) The room is small, with a rustic-yet-modern, wood-grained decor. (Those with truly formidable stomach capacities can take on the "All In," which pairs three-quarters-of-a-pound servings of three meats with an equal number of large sides.) Brunchers would do well to indulge in the fried chicken waffle, as good a reason for getting up early on the weekends as any.
109 S. Water St., Henderson, Nevada, 8015, USA
Known For
- Gourmet biscuits served with a variety of flavored butters, honey, and jams
- A wide selection of 80-plus bourbons
- Mouthwatering smoked meats
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$$ | East Side |
This local minichain feels a bit like Denny's with an old-fashioned, family-owned vibe. And it serves far superior food, including hearty Mexican specialties, fruit-topped pancakes and waffles, and a number of "diet delight"–type platters. Blueberry Hill has three locations, two of them on the East Side, a couple of miles apart on Flamingo Road (the other is at 3790 E. Flamingo Road) and both open 24 hours.
1505 E. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89119, USA
Known For
- Varied breakfast specialties
- Most meals available all day
- Casual, diner-esque atmosphere
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Recommended Fodor’s Video
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$$ | University District |
With 24-hour service and graveyard specials, Crown & Anchor is uniquely Las Vegas (and a favorite haunt of students from nearby UNLV). Most of the food is British, including the steak-and-kidney pie, bangers and mash, and authentic fish-and-chips. Sandwiches with American and British flavors are plenty, with frequent specials. There are beers from all over the world and a "shoppe" selling anglophile favorites like Branston pickle. The decor and faux-cottage exterior are decidedly British, and special events add to the fun: on New Year's Eve the celebration starts when it's midnight in the United Kingdom, which is 4 pm in Las Vegas. Long known as the all-hours Las Vegas mecca for British soccer die-hards, the pub has changed with the times and found ways for Vegas Golden Knights broadcasts to cohabitate with the Premier League. The Little Crown & Anchor on Spring Mountain Road is, as the name implies, a smaller version.
1350 E. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89119, USA
Known For
- Classic English foods
- Live "football" from across the pond
- Open 24/7
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$$ | Downtown |
You'll forget you're in Las Vegas after a few minutes in this relaxed and unpretentious Downtown cantina. All of the combinations and specials are good, but the best play here is to order the house-made tamales. There are five tamale options in all: pork, chicken, beef, cheese, and a sweet dessert tamale with pineapple and raisins. You also won't go wrong with the Mexican sandwich, served with guacamole, tomatoes, and fries. Stop in on a Wednesday night, and you might see a crowd gathered for the fútbol game on satellite-provided Mexican TV. There is another area location at 3250 North Tenaya Way in Summerlin.
910 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89101, USA
Known For
- House-made of tamales
- Well-prepared Mexican favorites
- Lively, colorful atmosphere
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$$ | Downtown |
Eat may serve only breakfast and lunch, but chef Natalie Young's food is so hearty (and so uniquely appealing), you may not feel the need for dinner. Among the specialties are cinnamon biscuits with warm strawberry compote, shrimp and grits with bacon, and the "DWBLTA" (thick toasted sourdough bracketing thick-sliced bacon, tomato, lettuce, and avocado). The "Killer Grilled Cheese with Kick Ass Tomato Soup" lives up to its name on both counts. Then, of course, there are the deviled eggs, for which the whites on the bottom are fried. Need we say more? There's another outpost in Summerlin at 1919 Village Center Circle, Suite 1.
707 Carson St., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89101, USA
Known For
- Creative, indulgent fare
- Truly killer grilled cheese
- Tiny, intimate spot
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner. Closed Tues. and Wed.
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$$ | Downtown |
Inside Downtown's bohemian temple, the Emergency Arts Building, this restaurant features what they call a "scratch kitchen concept." It may sound rather pot-lucky, but this isn't the standard chain-food menu (despite being part of a California-based chain). How does this sound: skirt steak with broccolini, red chimichurri, chili flakes, Parmesan, and lemon zest; a cowboy burger nearly tipping over with shoestring onions, bacon, cheddar cheese, and a beer barbecue sauce; and a bourbon barrel cake. That's just for starters. For imbibing purposes, sample the local craft beers, small-batch whiskeys, and classic cocktails. And don't miss the daily "Hoppy Hour." This really is a find.
520 E. Fremont St., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89101, USA
Known For
- Creative menu
- An enticing array of beverages
- Arts-inspired atmosphere
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$$ | |
A branch of the legendary coal-fired pizza-baker nestled beneath the Brooklyn Bridge, this casual little joint in Henderson doesn't quite conjure up the atmosphere of the original, despite exposed-brick walls and red-checked tablecloths, but it does have a wine list and an extensive beer menu. What counts, of course, is the pizza, and in this regard, Grimaldi's deserves high praise. The oven-hot pies come in three sizes and with such staple toppings as spicy sausage, meatballs, and ricotta cheese and more updated ones like baby spinach and jalapeños. Finish off your meal with a cannoli or some flavor-of-the-month cheesecake. There are four other outposts in the valley.
9595 S. Eastern Ave., Henderson, Nevada, 89123, USA
Known For
- Coal-fired pizza
- Specialty white pizza
- Monthly specials
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$$ | West Side |
Hearty appetites and a dash of patience will be richly rewarded at this quirky purveyor of so-called twisted farm food. Heaps of savory comfort food are cooked to order in this spacious restaurant done up in industrial, urban-farmhouse decor. Breakfast skillets runneth over with tender, house-cured hashes, fresh eggs, house-made biscuits and jam, and sage-fried chicken Benedict with smoked bacon, griddled mozzarella, spinach, tomato, and chipotle cream. Loaded dinner platters include chicken and waffles; stuffed meat loaf, burgers, or blue crab cakes with roasted butternut squash; potpie and pastas; and pork tenderloin and barbecued ribs. No room for dessert? Get the red velvet waffle or bread pudding to go. Additional locations are in The LINQ Resort & Casino, the Plaza Hotel and Casino (breakfast and lunch only Sunday–Friday); in Henderson (555 N. Stephanie Street); Summerlin (10810 W. Charleston Boulevard), and the Rio (breakfast and lunch only).
6800 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89146, USA
Known For
- Oversize servings
- "twisted farm food"
- Lively atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner Sun.--Thurs.
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$$ | West Side |
This busy eatery has developed a loyal following for its delicious, fresh seafood, where crawfish from Louisiana is delivered regularly and available with five seasoning choices at five heat levels. But other choices can be just as good. The shellfish (Dungeness, blue, king, or snow crab; lobster, clams, shrimp, black or green mussels, and, of course, crawfish), priced at the going market rate, is ordered by the pound. When your shellfish boil appears in its plastic bag, put on the plastic bib and dig in! Baskets of fried poultry and seafood are neater alternatives and come with Cajun fries. Sides include crispy pork skin, calamari and sweet potato fries, plus a credible étouffée. There are five po'boy choices as well. You'll find two West Side locations that are fairly close to one another (the other is at 3863 Spring Mountain Road), as well as at Planet Hollywood on the Strip and in Henderson (9560 S. Eastern Avenue).
4810 W. Spring Mountain Rd., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89102, USA
Known For
- Crawfish and other seafood
- Messy, pound-it self-service
- Lively atmosphere
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$$ | West Side |
Modest little Ichiza has developed a cult following for serving sublimely delicious, authentic Japanese food and drink in a casual social environment that borders on controlled chaos. Located on the second floor of a shopping center in the city's Chinatown section, this boisterous pub is crammed with tourists, students, and local hipsters who love a good value and the chance to chow down on a variety of tasty small-plate offerings (aka "Japa tapas") until the wee hours. Forget the menu and study the walls instead, where dozens of haphazardly taped signs list the daily specials, or ask your server for suggestions, which might include black cod with grated white radish; stir-fried calamari with ginger butter; a seaweed or salmon-skin salad; and deep-fried, breaded quail eggs. From dinner to dessert, it's best to order with a sense of adventure.
4355 Spring Mountain Rd., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89102, USA
Known For
- Pub-style Japanese food
- Daily specials
- Service into the wee hours
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
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$$ | East Side |
The surrounding neighborhood has been on the decline for years, so don't walk here—but also don't be deterred from this clean and solid Indian establishment, which has weathered the changes. The Palace has been known for decades for its all-you-can-eat lunch buffet (11:30 to 3) and as an evening refuge for conventioneers who aren't on an expense account. The menu is packed with tandoori delicacies, crispy rice-crepe dosa, and a sizable roster of vegetarian dishes such as paneer tikka, a house favorite of marinated cheese simmered in a creamy tomato sauce.
505 E. Twain, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89169, USA
Known For
- Popular lunch buffet
- Good service
- Modest prices for the convention corridor
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$$ | East Side |
Taking its name from two owners (both named Larry), this barbecue joint moved to inherit the smoked meat addicts left stranded when Memphis Championship Barbecue abandoned the same location. The atmosphere is unchanged, and they didn't have to worry about the delicious smell of smoke that saturated the sheet-metal accented interior. Barbecue fans are picky, and only time will tell if L2 will be able to live up to the cult following of Memphis, but it certainly delivers on quantity: the big hook is a $30, all-you-can-eat-in-one-hour special. Smaller appetites will find the usual one- or two-meat dinner platters, and those not so infatuated with barbecue will be happy to find an array of sandwiches and burgers to choose from for about $10 at lunch, and even—gasp—a healthy roster of salads. .
2250 E. Warm Springs Rd., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89119, USA
Known For
- Big barbecue platters
- All-you-can-eat special
- Diverse choices beyond smoked meat
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$$ | East Side |
Javier Barajas, the congenial owner and host of this colorful cantina group, named it for his home in Mexico. He presents outstanding specialties that he learned to cook while growing up in the culinary capital of Michoacán. Many menu items are named for his relatives, including flautas Mama Chelo (corn tortillas filled with chicken). Michoacán is known for its carnitas, so don't miss them. Or try the cabrito birria de chivo (roasted goat with red mole sauce). Guacamole is made table-side. Finish with the flan, a silken wonder. (This original location was damaged by a sinkhole and out of commission for much of 2021.Two other locations around the valley kept the food out there until the flagship could reopen).
2655 E. Desert Inn Rd., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89121, USA
Known For
- Specialties from Michoacán region
- Table-side guacamole
- Colorful, lively atmosphere
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$$ | West Side |
Delicious regional (mostly Cantonese) fare includes marvelous dim sum made fresh daily (and available until 3 pm). The great food often compels discerning diners—many of whom hail from Vegas's large Asian community—to brave the smoky, low-rollers casino floor of the Gold Coast. Named for three characters in Puccini's opera Turandot (Pong is head chef of the imperial kitchen), this well-regarded restaurant moved into a larger, upgraded space (the hotel's former showroom) in 2017. Order authentically prepared dishes such as minced squab–lettuce cups, chitlin spicy fish stew, preserved-egg porridge, or spicy Dungeness crab with peppercorn, along with a glass of chrysanthemum iced tea and sweet pineapple buns for dessert, soft and warm from the oven. Chefs will cater to customers' requests for small, unique offerings not on the menu, as long as the ingredients are on hand. The restaurant is open nightly until 3 am.
4000 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89103, USA
Known For
- Dim sum plentiful and varied
- Authentic Chinese specialties
- Lots of Chinese expats
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With spectators invited once again to Las Vegas Raiders games, fans of the Silver and Black will likely find this new sports bar and grill at the M Resort as intoxicating as the spirits on tap at one of two bars in this large, 3,400-square-foot room. Raiders helmets and footballs line the entry way, while framed jerseys of past gridiron greats and a gift shop loaded with Raiders gear make this a must-stop for team diehards. The all-night menu ranges from stadium fare like burgers and Philly Cheesesteaks to homemade BBQ, wood-fired pizzas, street tacos, and steak and salmon entrees. Breakfast is served on Saturday and—of course—Sunday, so you can fuel up before the big game and then root, root, root for the home team on one of 45 TVs.
12300 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Henderson, Nevada, 89004, USA
Known For
- Raiders-theme atmosphere
- 45 TVs for plenty of sports viewing
- All-night menu of stadium food favorites
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$$ | South Strip | American
Want to give the kids something to look at while they eat? Rainforest Cafe has animated creatures, weather and jungle sounds, and a 10,000-gallon aquarium—and a new planned location near the MGM Grand will provide even more space.
MGM Grand, 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. S, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89109, USA
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$$ | West Side |
Although popular namesake and founder Bobby Mercado is enjoying his retirement, Bobby's sister Carolina is the new owner and operator of this Mexican restaurant that’s been a steady draw with locals and visitors in one location or another since the early 1990s. This colorful, comfortable spot (with patio dining when the weather's pleasant) features 10 house-made salsas and a well-executed, seafood-heavy menu. Dishes include a shrimp ceviche salad; tostadas with shrimp, langostino, tilapia, calamari, and avocado; and Ensenada-style fried fish tacos; plus steak picado and veggie fajitas.
9440 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada, 89117, USA
Known For
- 10 house-made salsas
- Seafood-heavy menu
- Friendly, efficient service