32 Best Restaurants in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is one of America's hottest restaurant markets. Nearly every big Strip property has at least one and often two or more celebrity-chef restaurants. Away from the Strip, the unprecedented population growth in the city's suburbs has brought with it a separate and continuous wave of new eateries, both familiar chains and increasing numbers of legitimate destination restaurants.
Casino-resort dining basically falls into one of three categories. In the top echelon are the properties that have a half dozen or more bona fide star-status restaurants: Aria, Bellagio, Caesars, The Cosmopolitan, Mandalay Bay, MGM Grand, Venetian/Palazzo, and Wynn/Encore. At the next level are those resorts with one or two stellar restaurants and a smaller range of worthwhile but not quite top-of-the-line options. On the Strip, these include The Cromwell, Mandarin Oriental, Mirage, Monte Carlo, New York–New York, Paris, Planet Hollywood, SLS Las Vegas, and Treasure Island. Off the Strip, you can add the Lucky Dragon, Palms, the Hard Rock, M Resort, The Rio All-Suite Hotel, Green Valley Ranch, the JW Marriott, and Red Rock Resort. Then there's everybody else: casino-resorts with maybe a decent eatery or two but that simply aren't known for great food.
Downtown Las Vegas has seen a big revitalization in the past several years, and that extends to restaurants. Although Downtown still lacks a destination restaurant, notable spots are Carson Kitchen, Therapy, Turmeric, Le Thai, and La Comida in Fremont East; and Pizza Rock and the older Triple George Grill in the Downtown 3rd District. There also are a number of good restaurants in the Downtown Container Park.
Outside the tourism corridor, Las Vegas has a number of marquee restaurants with increasing cachet among foodies from out of town—places such as Todd’s Unique Dining, Marché Bacchus, Nora's Italian Cuisine, and Lotus of Siam. There's great food to be had off the beaten path in Las Vegas, and you'll pay a lot less in these areas, too.
If you haven't been to Vegas in a few years, you'll notice some major changes. Names like Wolfgang Puck, Michael Mina, and Emeril Lagasse still have plenty of pull in this town, but the Vegas chefs commanding the most attention are French imports such as Pierre Gagnaire, Joël Robuchon, and Guy Savoy, along with vaunted U.S. chefs like Giada De Laurentiis, Charlie Palmer, and Mario Batali.
There's also a trend toward high-minded restaurants with exclusive-nightclub vibes. Note the success of see-and-be-seen Pan-Asian hot spot Hakkasan and Tao Asian Bistro & Nightclub, the youthful late-night haunts LAVO and FIX, and bordello-chic establishments such as Strip House—to name just a few. Elsewhere in town, Las Vegas's growing international—and especially Asian—population has created a market for some of the best Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Pan-Asian restaurants in the country.
1228 Main
Celebrity Chef Wolfgang Puck got in early on the rise of the Arts District when he opened this casual bar and café in 2023 (the name is pronounced "Twelve Twenty-Eight"). The restaurant side is a full-service bakery, cranking out breads and pastries all day long. It also serves food for three meals a day, as well as brunch on weekends. The bar side is a typical Las Vegas cocktail room, and is a welcoming spot to pass time while you're waiting for a table. Arrive early for weekend brunch as the place gets packed.
Anima
Anima means “soul,” and the unique fusion of Italian and Spanish cuisine found at this upscale eatery certainly has it. The boldness of the menu is mirrored by the eye-popping octopus mural that adorns a dining room wall and a charcuterie bar positioned in the front of the house. In the The Gramercy apartment complex, Anima is the latest creation from the team behind the acclaimed EDO Gastro Tapas & Wine in Chinatown, and some favorites originating there can be found at Anima, including the "Bikini" (a pressed ham and cheese sandwich). Entrees include vegan mushroom risotto as well as the the must-try braised short ribs, served with semolina gnocchi, maitake mushrooms, and black pepper sauce. There’s also a spirited selection of spirits, from a deep wine list with an emphasis on Italian and Spanish offerings to an extensive array of amaro varieties to try.
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Best Friend
Famed Los Angeles chef Roy Choi debuted in Las Vegas with this lively concept inside Park MGM serving Korean BBQ as well as a panoply of favorites from Choi's Koreatown experience. While a DJ spins tunes at a turntable in the corner, the meal starts with a sampling of banchan: tiny dishes that include kimchi, broccoli, cucumbers, spinach, and more. From there, try the slippery shrimp, the kimchi fried rice, the kogi short rib tacos, and the pork belly hot pot. Service is family style, meant for sharing. Decor brings to mind a colorful stop at a food truck. Before you leave, be sure to peruse the shelves at the working convenience store out front.
Border Grill Mandalay Bay
Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger are the popular, green-minded chefs who created this cheery, sophisticated outpost of their now-closed Santa Monica restaurant. Service is snappy, and you'd be hard-pressed to find a tastier margarita in town—particularly the blood orange and chili-citrus versions. Starters include three citrusy ceviches and plantain empanadas, and grilled sustainable fish and hormone-free meats, such as short ribs and marinated pork, make healthful, flavorful fillings for tacos and tortillas. The all-you-can-eat weekend brunch, served from 10 to 3, features creative small plates, such as horchata French toast, diablo chicken with a churro waffle, and cajeta churro tots with cinnamon and raspberry sauce.
Brera Osteria
One of the more recent entries in the Viva Italiano! culinary scene, the Milan-inspired restaurant at Grand Canal Shoppes is a creation sitting right on The Venetian's replica of St. Mark's Square. Taking its name from the Brera neighborhood of Milan, the menu focuses on Milanese favorites. Try these mouth-waterers: squash blossoms, braised beef cheek, lamb chops, calamari, branzino, pizzas, and pastas; there also are vegetarian selections. Top it off with premium Italian wines and cocktails for an experience that aims to be thoroughly and authentically northern Italian. Brunch selections augment the lunch menu, and during Apertivo Hour from 2 to 5 pm daily, pizzas, cocktails, beers, and wines by the glass are half-off.
Chickie's & Pete's Crabhouse and Sports Bar
The excitement from Philadelphia-native locals and visitors surrounding this Sahara spot is palpable, largely because of its legendary (and reportedly addictive) crab fries—french fries with crab seasoning, also available topped with actual crab or lobster (or try the Crabby Sweets, a sweet-potato version). There’s plenty more on this sports-bar menu, though, including four varieties of Philly cheesesteaks, warm or chilled lobster rolls, an impressive variety of other seafood, burgers, sandwiches, salads, pizza, and more. The late-night menu, served at the bar from 10 pm to midnight daily, is brief, but all the favorites are on it.
Crossroads Kitchen Las Vegas
The first (and so far only) fully plant-based fine-dining restaurant on the Strip, from ground-breaker Tal Ronnen, is a haven for vegans and vegetarians as well as those who want to eat healthful Italian/Mediterranean cuisine (and eat well). The "short-rib" tart served here is made with lion's mane mushrooms, while the lasagna Bolognese is made with Impossible meat. In addition to the à la carte menu, there are five- and seven-course tasting menus (hmm . . . truffles are vegan) as well as a nut-free menu. During happy hour, from 4 to 5:30 pm Monday through Thursday, small plates such as "calmari" fritti (made from hearts of palm) and "caviar" (made from kelp) and chips are $10.
El Dorado Cantina
Every day is Día de los Muertos at this chic, skull-festooned cantina in Tivoli Village, where a pair of brightly colored calacas guard the entryway. Once inside, prepare to encounter a different kind of spirit: namely, a vast selection of tequila, with more than 100 varieties available in this eye-popping, high-end Mexican eatery. The menu is as inviting as the rose-covered walls, ranging from gourmet filet mignon tacos to lobster fajitas to signatures like their cedar chipotle salmon. Brunch is served all day, with bottomless bloody Marys and mimosas available to properly lubricate the festivities. The focus here is on using organic and non-GMO ingredients made fresh daily, meaning there's not a microwave in the house.
Eureka!
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."
Famous Foods
Food halls have replaced buffets in several Las Vegas casino-resorts, but nobody does it as well as Resorts World, which has one with more than a dozen mini-restaurants and even a pour-it-yourself bar. Famous Foods is inspired by the street markets of Southeast Asia, and the cuisine skews in that direction, with dumplings, hand-pulled noodles, clay-pot rice, ramen, sushi, and sashimi among the main offerings. But you’ll also find fish and chips, Mediterranean foods, Texas barbecue, and Marcus Samuelsson’s Nashville-style hot chicken.
Firefly* Tapas Kitchen + Bar
As the name suggests, this bistro focuses on small plates that encourage sharing and camaraderie, especially when it's the daily happy hour and/or paired with Firefly's signature sangrias or mojitos, both available by the glass or pitcher. The rough rule of thumb is for each person to order two plates, drawn from four categories: Chilled, Hot, Seafood, or Meat & Poultry. The range of choices is head-spinning, from beet salad and stuffed dates to empanadas, steamed mussels, and even manchego mac & cheese. In 2023, the original location moved a mile or so to a larger building (which some may remember as McCormick & Schmick's) on the edge of the Hughes Center office park. The atmosphere is completely different: plenty of windows and light paint replacing the dark and romantic, folk-art plastered original. There is also a second Firefly in Southwest Las Vegas (7355 S. Buffalo Drive).
Gordon Ramsay Burger
Since Gordon Ramsay's been known to flame a contestant or two, it's only fitting that his burgers are cooked over a hardwood fire. Consider the Hell's Kitchen Burger, with asadero cheese, roasted jalapeños, and roasted tomatoes; or the Farmhouse Burger, with Dubliner cheese, bacon, and a fried egg. Salads include the "hellfire" chicken, and sides run to truffle Parmesan fries and beer-battered onion rings. Dig into one of Ramsay's rich desserts, or sip a cocktail while enjoying the roaring fire. There's another location at the Flamingo.
Grand Lux Cafe
Warm earth tones, soft music and lighting, cloth napkins, and marble-topped tables are an elegant milieu in which to enjoy a glass of wine and mélange of appealing, freshly cooked flavors and textures—Asian nachos, double-stuffed potato spring rolls, stacked chicken quesadillas—24 hours a day. Located right off the main casino floor, this convenient chain eatery offers eclectic menu items and familiar crowd-pleasers: pizza, pastas, barbecue ribs, burgers, BLTs, and even wood-grilled filet mignon or rib eye. The "Lux" operates as a subsidiary of the Cheesecake Factory, so not only is it a reliable option for a more casual meal, it also offers its signature cheesecake for dessert. (You can also get one to go in the adjoining bakery, as well as coffee and pastries.) And there's another location in the Palazzo.
La Cave Wine and Food Hideaway
This intimate, casual restaurant focuses on wine and Mediterranean-inspired small plates such as sweet and salty bacon-wrapped dates with blue-cheese fondue, and beef carpaccio with mushrooms and truffle aioli. The wine list reflects global selections, with an emphasis on Europe. The menu groups the offerings by provenance and preparation: From the Sea, Farm, Oven, Garden, Grill, Butcher, and so forth. A fiery chorizo, andouille, and pepperoncini flatbread is ideal for sharing, and vegetable dishes, including a beet and burrata salad with arugula, satisfy those with dietary restrictions. There also are charcuterie and cheese selections, and a number of vegan dishes. During the butler-style, all-you-can-eat brunch from 9:30 am to 1:30 pm on weekends, expect the likes of a snickers pancake, short rib hash, and filet mignon eggs Benedict.
La Pizza e La Pasta
If you’re looking for something a little more sit-down-and-relax than Eataly’s forage-style food hall, consider this mid-priced part of the Italian behemoth. Two towering, gold-tiled pizza ovens turn out Neapolitan-style pies in numerous varieties, while the pasta side offers house-made fresh pasta dishes, such as pappardelle al ragu di funghi, lasagna Emilia, and ravioli di zucca, and others made with dried pasta imported from Gragnano, Italy, such as bucatini cacio e pepe, and linguine alla scoglio. Antipasti and salads also are served. The prix-fixe Taste of Italy menu has three courses.
Lazy Dog
As casino companies relax their historically strict no-pets policies, canine companions are popping up with increasingly frequency on the Strip. While they're still no-go inside restaurants, they're frequently welcomed by those with patios, including this spot first established in Las Vegas at Town Square. The name's a clue, of course, as is the fact that LD has a special menu for dogs. As for humans, they'll find a varied menu including such starters of spicy tuna poke on crispy sushi rice, or Cajun fries with chipotle-ranch dipping sauce. Entrees include such homey choices as campfire pot roast, or a chicken pot pie, as well as steaks, burgers, sandwiches, and salads. There's a menu for human kids, too, as well as a gluten-sensitive menu; brunch dishes such as mountain berry pancakes and quiche are served on weekends. Suburban locations are in Summerlin and Henderson.
Lucia Mexican Grill
Fans of the bygone Pink Taco (and then, for a spell, Casa Calavera) will smile in recognition when they see its hotel-operated replacement's layout is much the same, including the convivial center bar; however, as the name change would signal, the decor and atmosphere are subtly more sophisticated now. Expanded outdoor patio seating against the backdrop of the pool area gives it a cool vibe for the daily 5–6 pm happy hour. The tequila menu is more expansive than the food side, which trims things down to creative versions of tacos and burritos with flourishes such as roasted pineapple or kimchi red onions. Every week brings Taco Tuesday's $5 tacos, and a there's a Fiesta Brunch on Saturday and Sunday.
Mabel's BBQ
Michael Symon, TV celebrity chef and the man who revived the Cleveland culinary scene, took his show on the road to Las Vegas with this meat-centric spot at the Palms. "Pig Parts" (crispy ears, tails and cracklin's) may seem like a novelty to some, but there's no doubting the seriousness of his pork, beef, poultry, and carefully conceived sides, as well as the long list of brews to go with them. The airy, two-level space takes on a sports-bar vibe for high-profile games, complete with a "Tailgate Menu."
Marché Bacchus
This French bistro-cum-wineshop is in a quiet master-planned neighborhood that winds around its own lake (!), a remnant of the era when Las Vegas cared even less about running out of water. The tranquil setting and view are rivaled by a wine list nearly 1,000 bottles deep, and tastings and wine dinners are held regularly. You can buy a bottle at retail prices in the store and then drink it on the premises ($10 corkage fee). Seating is in either the cozy dining room or on the expansive lakeside terraces, which have misters for summer use and fireplaces for winter. When you're ready to eat, start with a cheese or charcuterie tray and move on to seared foie gras with poached seasonal fruit or a roasted beet salad. Entrées might include a classic steak frites or trout almondine. Hear live music on select nights. Marché Bacchus is open before noon for lunch and has a 3–6 pm happy hour.
Nellie’s Southern Kitchen
The Jonas Brothers have captured the hearts of a generation of music fans, and Nellie’s has claimed dominion over their stomachs. Named after their great-grandmother and an offshoot of the original in North Carolina, the restaurant serves appropriately Southern riffs-on-classics at lunch and dinner. You can start with a basket of biscuits with cinnamon butter and jam, pimento cheese or collards and artichoke dip, or fried green tomatoes, and proceed to dishes like fried chicken with four-cheese mac and drunken collard greens, a waffle with lobster tail dipped in Nashville hot sauce, meatloaf, or a rib-eye steak. Live music is, as you might expect, a staple.
Pasta Shop Ristorante & Art Gallery
This house-made pasta pioneer (which sells to Strip resorts) is part restaurant and part art gallery, showcasing the owner's works. Pasta is, as you might expect, the specialty here, shown to advantage in dishes such as Artisan Pasta Anne (spinach pappardelle with grilled shrimp, feta, and tomatoes in a scampi sauce). There also are vegan dishes, pizzas, and salads, including the popular "Live Forever Salad" with wild greens, brown rice, tomatoes, and roasted cashews.
Pizza Rock
Eleven-time world pizza champion Tony Gemignani installed four ovens in this heavily renovated, industrial-chic space in the Downtown Third district so he could produce all styles of pizza: Neapolitan, Romano, American, New York, classic Italian, Californian, New York/New Haven, Sicilian, and Chicago. Don't neglect the starters, though; the fried green beans with garlic and olive oil and beer-battered fried artichokes are worth the trip alone. The group table with a roulette wheel in the center is quite a sight.
Primrose
The sunlit Primrose perfectly reflects the all-about-nature theme of Park MGM and is a great place to stop for a quick morning coffee or pressed juice, a bountiful breakfast, or brunch or sparkling rosé all day (or at least until 2 pm). Breakfast is fairly traditional, with the likes of seasonal brioche French toast or lobster eggs Benedict, with soups, salads, sandwiches, and burgers later on.
Ra Sushi Bar Restaurant
Take a break from shopping and step into this dimly lighted restaurant and lounge that's part of a growing chain with a menu of both sushi and cooked entrées. Delicious sushi rolls might include the Gojira (with shrimp tempura, krab mix, cream cheese, and cucumber) or the Crazy Monkey (stuffed with smoked salmon, mango, and cream cheese and topped with avocado, red tempura bits, cashews, and sweet eel sauce). Heartier fare includes chicken, shrimp, or steak yakisoba, and chicken katsu with Asian cole slaw. The happy hour specials here are popular with the locals. Late-night noshers appreciate that it's open until midnight, until 1 am on Friday and Saturday.
Rainforest Cafe
When the Rainforest Cafe moved out of its longtime berth in the MGM Grand, the animatronic animals naturally made the journey with it, just up the Strip near Harmon Avenue. But while you're watching and listening to them there's plenty to eat, with a menu offering an eclectic mix of classic American food like St. Louis-style spareribs, chicken-fried chicken with country gravy, sandwiches, and burgers. International flavors are represented by the likes of fajitas and a spicy Korean stir-fry. And kids can indulge in "Python Pasta" or "Jurassic Chicken Tidbits." Brunch is served on weekends from 10 to 2, and an a afternoon happy hour gives Mom and Dad a break from walking the Strip.
Tableau
Isolated from the busier parts of Wynn, this bright, airy breakfast-and-brunch restaurant overlooks a serene pool and well-manicured garden off the gleaming Tower Suites lobby. For something lighter, try the steel-cut Irish oatmeal with golden raisins and almond milk, or sliced fruit with Greek yogurt. Or indulge in the short rib Benedict, French toast with apples and cream cheese mousse, or caramelized gnocchi with butternut squash. And be a sport: order the warm beignets with creme Anglaise for the table.
Tom's Watch Bar
From restaurant-industry veteran and Smashburger founder Tom Ryan, this gastropub bridges a space at New York–New York between the casino and the Brooklyn Bridge that runs along the Strip, delivering great views of the action. The large menu of drinks and beers is matched by an extensive food menu, including burgers, pizzas, and other entrées. It's a good spot to try the salted caramel skillet French toast or crispy chicken and cornbread pancake for breakfast or brunch, and butter-poached lobster and shrimp tacos or Tom's Famous Prime Rib dip for lunch or dinner. The kids' menu has all of the favorites. Tom's also is open late—until till 1 or 2 am on Fridays and Saturdays—making it a handy post-game or after-concert spot.
Vanderpump à Paris
Veranda
If the weather's fine, decamp to the Veranda's poolside terrace for breakfast, lunch, or weekend brunch, or stay indoors, where the feeling is airy and light. The Four Seasons is probably the only place you'll find eggs cocotte on the breakfast menu, or you can go luxe with eggs and caviar or more plebian with good ol' bacon and eggs. There's a brunch buffet from 8 to 1 on weekends. For lunch, consider a bluefin tuna Nicoise salad, or mushroom ravioli with cheese fondue.