Vegas is all about extravagance, convenience and decadence. But just because you’re visiting doesn’t mean you’re stuck eating bad buffet food all weekend. Explore the strip and beyond for some of the best eats in the whole damn country.
13 Things You Have to Eat When You’re in Las Vegas
Chicken ‘n’ Watermelon ‘n’ Waffles At Yardbird Southern Table & Bar
Skip the rubbery eggs Benedict at your hotel and make a pit stop at this beloved fried chicken joint on Las Vegas Boulevard. (But don’t forget to make a reservation—it fills up fast for brunch.)
3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd.; runchickenrun.com
Foie Gras Cotton Candy At Bazaar Meat
Introducing the meat-flavored dessert we never knew we needed. (If savory cotton candy isn’t your thing, play it safe with the king crab legs.)
2535 S. Las Vegas Blvd.; slslasvegas.com
Chinatown Clams Casino At Sparrow + Wolf
Just lost $200 playing slots? Don’t worry, Sparrow + Wolf’s high-end take on this classic breaded seafood dish will cheer you up.
4480 Spring Mountain Rd., Suite 100; sparrowandwolflv.com
Literally Everything At Bacchanal Buffet
In Vegas, not all buffets are created equal. Head straight for the spread at Caesar’s Palace and pile your plate high with truffle deviled eggs, cheesy meatballs and lump crab avocado toast. (And then go back for seconds. And thirds.)
3570 Las Vegas Boulevard S.; caesars.com/caesars-palace
Le Caviar Imperial At Joël Robuchon
Win big last night? Make a reservation at Joël Robuchon’s ritzy French restaurant in the MGM Grand. The first offering on the 16-course tasting menu, a disc of king crab and caviar, is worth the whopping price tag all by itself.
3799 S. Las Vegas Blvd.; mgmgrand.com
Kobe Beef Fillet With Wasabi At Abriya Raku
You’re just getting out of Cirque du Soleil when a craving for Japanese food strikes. This stellar izakaya is open until 3 a.m. for all of your late-night kobe beef and sushi needs.
5030 Spring Mountain Rd.; rakugrill.com
Caviar French Toast At Other Mama
Las Vegas is all about decadence, and there’s nothing more over-the-top than starting your morning with a heaping stack of caviar-topped French toast. (Don’t forget the oyster-topped deviled eggs as a starter.)
3655 S. Durango, Unit 6; othermamalv.com
The Reuben-ish Sandwich At The Goodwich
While you’re chowing down on towering stacks of carbs (what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas), stop by this downtown sandwich shop. Extra fennel sauerkraut, please.
900 S. Las Vegas Blvd. #120; thegoodwich.com
Buta Burger At Fukuburger
No, this isn’t an offshoot of David Chang’s successful restaurant chain Momofuku (which also has an outpost in Vegas, and is also delicious). Opened by Colin Fukunaga and Robert “Mags” Magsalin, this Chinatown joint (and accompanying food truck) is serving up burgers exploding with umami—they really hit the spot after too many Cable Car Martinis.
3429 S. Jones; fukuburger.com
Margherita Pizza At Pizza Rock Las Vegas
If Van Halen opened a pizza place, this head-banging, hard-rocking spot would be it. Get your hands on a margherita pie—it won the World Pizza Cup in Italy, and only 73 are made every day.
201 N. Third St.; pizzarocklasvegas.com
Elote At Sugarcane
The Mexican grilled corn dish is majorly trending—we’re partial to the gorgeous preparation at this downtown raw bar, alongside an order of West Coast snapper ceviche and Wagyu beef carpaccio.
3355 S. Las Vegas Blvd.; sugarcanerawbargrill.com
Spicy Shrimp Habanero At Bandito
Sure, you can sit at the bar all afternoon and sip margaritas, but eventually you’re going to get hungry. Grab at least one order of this super spicy shrimp dish, with roasted veggies, pickled onion and a jalapeño cheese tamale (trust us, the combo works).
325 Hughes Center Dr.; banditolv.com
Live Scallop At É By Jose Andrés
Innovation is the name of the game at Jose Andrés’s much-buzzed-about Las Vegas location, including a selection of seafood that’s so fresh…it’s still alive. Order the live scallop served inside a white truffle cream shell and prepare to swoon.
3708 S. Las Vegas Blvd.; cosmopolitanlasvegas.com