Explore Part 2 — Restaurants 51–100
Discover more great dining in the second half of the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Top 100 Restaurants for 2026. Explore restaurants 51–100, with reviews, photos, and locations to help you find your next favorite spot.
Reviews by Johnathan L. Wright, Las Vegas Review-Journal / Neon. Original feature.
Le Thai
Photo: Three-color curry (Kristen Di Chiara).
Asian and Pacific Island | Downtown
For 15 years, Le Thai has offered exemplary Thai cooking in a funky space just right for downtown: exposed wooden trusses, open ductwork, hanging clusters of greenery, baskets enclosing lighting fixtures and a mural of two elephants. Three-color curry, chef Dan Coughlin's marquee dish, blends red, yellow and green curries, joined by vegetables and protein of your choice. Le Thai's take on waterfall sauce, a Thai glaze, lends its sweet, spicy, lightly sour character across the menu: a spin on larb, Thai pork jerky, stir-fried beef, short rib fried rice and a sriracha bloody mary.
523 Fremont St., Las Vegas, NV 89101
Letty's de Leticia's Cocina
Photo: The exterior of the restaurant (rjmagazine).
Mexican and Latin American | Downtown
Leticia Mitchell, a longtime Vegas chef and restaurateur, opened Letty's in a 1930s building occupied for decades by El Sombrero, a pioneering Mexican restaurant in Vegas. Mitchell is known for her salsas, like the lingering heat of a habanero version or a taquiza red salsa, smoky and acidic. Anoint street tacos or a shrimp and chorizo taco with the salsas. Tortas have also helped Letty's make its name, the bolillo rolls sandwiching breakfast chilaquiles, chicken or carnitas mole, or breaded chicken or steak Milanesa with a pop of citrus lime aïoli.
807 S. Main St., Las Vegas, NV 89101
Mae Daly's Fine Steaks & Whiskeys
Photo: Oysters Rockefeller (Chase Stevens).
Steakhouses | Strip
We never tire of praising the oysters Rockefeller, a creamy, crisp, salty, nutty communion of creamed spinach, bacon and Parmigiano-Reggiano graced with licorice notes of airy Pernod sabayon. Cured egg yolk makes Piedmontese beef tartare even richer; capers and cornichons jab the tartare, cutting the richness. Grass-fed Piedmontese beef makes for a leaner filet mignon; add foie gras for some Rossini style. The whiskey list runs to about 90 domestic and international releases, including the coveted Macallan 25 Year Old.
2211 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89104
Main St. Provisions
Photo: Chef Miguel Tapia (Liv Paggiarino).
American | Downtown
Miguel Tapia was recently named executive chef of Main St. following the departure of Ellie Parker, who left for a new gig on the East Coast as part of her victory in Season 24 of “Hell's Kitchen.” Tapia is already hitting his stride with a dish that conjures the Mediterranean: roasted Spanish octopus, garbanzo beans, tomato broth, lemon and oregano. A special of beef tenderloin carpaccio balances herby almond pesto and nutty shavings of Grana Padano. Charred broccolini adds a smoky snap to seasonal poached asparagus risotto with lemon and tickly micro parsley.
1214 S. Main St., Las Vegas, NV 89104
Makers & Finders
Photo: Clockwise from left, empanadas, chilaquiles and bandeja paisa (rjmagazine).
Mexican and Latin American | Downtown
On Halloween 2014, Makers & Finders opened its original location on South Main Street in the Arts District, when the area was scruffier than it is today. Co-founder Josh Molina combined the Latin American comfort food he grew up eating with coffeehouse conviviality. Arepas and empanadas still anchor the menu. La Paisa arepa, a salty-sweet-savory communion, features short rib, maduros fried plantains, black beans, queso, fried egg and crisp chicken skins. Empanadas take flight in a sampler of five styles: beef, chicken, shrimp, spicy mushroom, queso.
1120 S. Main St., Suite 110, Las Vegas, NV 89104
Maroon
Photo: Bluefin toro and other seafood in a bujol (also spelled buljol) Trinidadian salad (Benjamin Hager).
Steakhouses | Strip | Sahara Las Vegas
This Caribbean steakhouse from Kwame Onwuachi of New York City, one of the most honored young chefs of his generation, offers a menu that is at once bold, nuanced and whimsical. A salad of tangy green mango, crisp fried okra and smoky-spicy tomato choka makes you rethink okra. Fatty bluefin toro and other seafood commingle in a bujol (a Trinidadian salad also spelled buljol) that tingles with acid and heat. Wondrous jerk lamb chops are small and perfectly tender, almost delicate. Sauces accompany meals. Dab the habanero sauce on whatever you like for an extra rush of heat.
2535 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Mercato Della Pescheria
Photo: Grilled red snapper with creamed leeks, crisp pancetta and shaved fennel (Benjamin Hager).
Italian | Strip | The Venetian
It's always the right time to dine on the terrace at Mercato della Pescheria, surrounded by a replica of St. Mark's Square in Venice, the painted blue sky above forever tufted with clouds, the pigeons never alighting to plague diners. A mortadella pizza platforms the warm spice of mortadella, nutty pistachio purée and the blistered char of its wood-fire crust. Skull Island jumbo prawns, wild-caught and meaty, cluster upright in risotto with seafood broth. Grilled red snapper is vertically plated: bedded in creamed leeks and crowned with crisp pancetta and a nest of shaved fennel.
3377 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Michael's Gourmet Room
Photo: Rack of lamb with fresh vegetables (Benjamin Hager).
Steakhouses | South | South Point
Time has politely held its breath at Michael's, a throwback to Old Vegas with plush red seating, fresh flowers on the tables, sconces casting a warm glow, and waiters in tuxedo jackets deftly navigating the room and preparing tableside dishes. The classics live on here, like a magnificent rack of lamb served bouquetière with fresh vegetables, or spicy shrimp fra diavolo. There is a stellar Caesar salad to be had and a fine fillet of Dover sole. For a sweet finish, browse the pastry cart as it glides to the table or embrace the flambé with bananas Foster or cherries jubilee.
9777 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89183
Milpa
Photo: Beef barbacoa (rjmagazine).
Mexican and Latin American | Spring Valley
In the years since Milpa debuted in January 2021, chef-owner D.J. Flores has become one of the leading Vegas practitioners of traditional masa making in which imported heirloom corn is boiled, milled, formed into dough, pressed into tortillas and griddled to order. A stack of tortillas touches down alongside sautéed shrimp, citrus and adobo-marinated grilled chicken and tender beef barbacoa. A tetela features a griddled tortilla pocket stuffed with mushrooms and squash, then crowned by oozy sunny-side eggs. Tinga-marinated roast cauliflower backbones a Milpa taco bowl.
4226 S. Durango Drive, Suite 101, Las Vegas, NV 89147
Mizumi
Photo: Nigiri luxuriating in cedar smoke (Steve Legato).
Asian and Pacific Island | Strip | Wynn Las Vegas
Mizumi's sleek dining room, an expanse of tonal woods and other natural materials, sits beside an artificial lake with lavish plantings and a gentle waterfall. Executive chef Jeff Ramsey presents food that is clean and complex. He cooks down uni, sake, mirin and kombu powder to make the base for a vinaigrette that dresses cold somen noodles. Thick slices of chu-toro incline against each other, forming a circular nest for a mound of Osetra caviar. Nigiri luxuriates in smoke from a special powder made using 1,000-year-old cedar.
3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Monzù Italian Oven & Bar
Photo: Selection of pizzas (Bronson Loftin).
Italian | Spring Valley
Chef-owner Giovanni “Gio” Mauro hails from a family that has owned and operated restaurants in Vegas for decades. Monzù Italian, which began as Monzù Pizzeria, occupies the former Nora's Italian Cuisine, his mother's place. Fried anchovies wrapped in sage leaves are skewered to lemon sections; spritz on some juice for a crisp, salty, citrusy starter. Mauro bakes his pizzas in Roman-style rectangles, showcasing natural pepperoni or apricot jam, bacon and goat cheese. Busiati corkscrew pasta with shrimp and pistachio pesto honors Mauro's Sicilian heritage.
6020 W. Flamingo Road, Suite 10, Las Vegas, NV 89103
Moobongri Soondae
Photo: Beef bulgogi in a stone pot (Kristen Di Chiara).
Asian and Pacific Island | Chinatown
Moobongri Soondae might belong to a restaurant group founded in South Korea, but the cooking feels very mom-and-pop independent, soulful and comforting. The restaurant specializes in soondae, a savory pork blood sausage, used in soups (including a spicy version), hot pot, in a pan fry with noodles and vegetables, and in plates like a steamed soondae and boiled pork combo. Other standouts: a spicy soup of big beef short ribs and slippery glass noodles, beef bulgogi served in a stone pot and a refreshing cold broth provisioned with brisket, buckwheat noodles and boiled egg.
3385 S. Decatur Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89102
Morimoto
Photo: Yellowtail serrano with tosazu dashi vinegar and truffles (MGM Resorts International).
Asian and Pacific Island | Strip | MGM Grand
For a decade, global chef Masaharu Morimoto has set a standard in Vegas for his menu that links the precision of Japanese cooking with Western influences and more than a little showmanship. Yellowtail serrano, a staple, calls on a luxurious sauce of tosazu dashi vinegar and earthy truffles. A deep-fried octopus takoyaki roll, another house specialty, is crowned by a fruity, tangy tonkatsu sauce and a feathery cabbage slaw. An A5 wagyu roll with dollops of caviar is smoked in a special box. Cocktails shine here with Japanese spirits and ingredients.
3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Morning News
Photo: Jack Flipper breakfast sandwich (rjmagazine).
American | Central
The team behind Herbs & Rye steakhouse opened Morning News in 2023. A chipper mural of anthropomorphic a.m. essentials — egg, waffles, pancakes, sausage — covers one wall. A Morning News take on breakfast standards flourish on the menu: say, biscuits draped with thick brown sausage gravy (more classic), or chorizo white cheddar poutine prodded with macha chili oil, a Mexican salsa akin to Asian chili crisp (less classic). A Jack Flipper breakfast sandwich is built with choice of bagel, a mini pancake, honey ham, egg, manchego and maple schmear.
3154 W. Sahara Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89102
Nittaya's Secret Kitchen
Photo: Green apple slaw and crisp pork belly (Benjamin Hager).
Asian and Pacific Island | West
Nittaya's isn't a secret, thanks to its stylish interior — a calm space composed of grays, greenery, marble and dark woods — and to the elegant Thai cooking of chef-owner Nittaya Parawong. The menu includes tapas, like a salad setting a hillock of sweet-crunchy green apple slaw against a jumble of crisp pork belly, crackling and fatty. Satays arrive upright, the skewers stuck in half moons of fresh pineapple. Eggplant in spicy garlic sauce is finished with a whoosh of fresh Thai basil. Crying tiger steak, a menu mainstay, “weeps” from Thai hot sauce.
8427 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89128
Nobu
Photo: Salmon and yellowtail nigiri, front, and a California roll (Chase Stevens).
Asian and Pacific Island | Strip | Caesars Palace
Perhaps more than any other living chef, Nobu Matsuhisa has taken a signature culinary style — Japanese classicism married with Peruvian and other influences — and extended that style into a free-floating internationalism that seems suited to wherever it touches down. You might say the chef's miso black cod has conquered the world. The flagship Vegas Nobu lies downstairs from the 10,000-square-foot penthouse of the Nobu Hotel within Caesars Palace.
3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Nocturno
Photo: Wonton cannoli with spicy tuna, Calabrian chili and tobiko (Benjamin Hager).
Bars | Strip
Chef D.J. Flores helms Milpa, one of the finest Mexican restaurants in Vegas (and an inhabitant of the current Top 100). In the past year, he's been just as successful in the bar business, as co-owner of Nivel Hospitality Group, which opened Nocturno, a modern riff on the classic cocktail lounge. The menu, called the “Bartender's Guide,” organizes drinks by cocktail family and flavor profiles. Tell bar director Luis “Lu” Lopez your spirit of choice and flavor preferences, then let him craft something splendid. A standout bite: wonton cannoli with spicy tuna and Calabrian chili.
1017 S. First St., Suite 180, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Nudo Italiano
Photo: Chef William DeMarco (Benjamin Hager).
Italian | South
Every neighborhood needs a Nudo — a family-friendly spot, ideal for a casual meal or something nicer, with an approachable menu that still offers unexpected moments. Michael and Jenna Morton opened Nudo as their first off-Strip restaurant. Soppressata and Calabrian chili spice up a diavola pizza; ciliegine mozzarella balls bring the mellow. Pipe rigate is Nudo's alla vodka pasta, with prosciutto. Dubai chocolate is a cliché, but Nudo makes the elements feel fresh in a layered pistachio cake with chocolate drizzle, Sicilian pistachios and a coil of kataifi shredded phyllo.
4390 W. Cactus Ave., Las Vegas, NV 89141
Omakase Kyara Sake Bar
Photo: From left, foie gras truffle chawanmushi, tuna tartare atop potato pavé with wagyu fat aïoli, and shigoku sake-poached oyster with yuzu mignonette (Benjamin Hager).
Asian and Pacific Island | Chinatown
Chef Winston Matsuuchi leads diners seated at a small counter through omakase menus that are at once precise and creatively expansive. Firm yet buttery shin-aji mackerel and almost-melting hamachi belly star among a course of seven sashimi styles. House cold tofu with a nest of bonito flakes jolts with ginger. Chicken skins stand out among a set of five skewers; they are dipped in a piquant yuzu kosho. Wagyu sukiyaki is prepared at the counter and served with an astonishingly flavorful sauce mingling sake, dashi, mirin and soy. The chef makes the soy sauce in-house.
6555 S. Jones Blvd., Suite 120, Las Vegas, NV 89118
Other Mama
Photo: Other Mama roll (Other Mama).
Asian and Pacific Island | Spring Valley
Other Mama draws nearby locals, residents from across the valley and tourists from the Strip — no small accomplishment considering Vegas traffic and the competitive restaurant scene. Diners come for chef-owner Dan Krohmer's immaculate sushi, seafood and other dishes rooted in Japan. What could be more beautifully simple than a spicy tuna and cucumber roll? A house Other Mama roll perfectly balances sushi tradition with modern sushi elements like tempura shrimp, avocado and spicy mayo. The rotating oysters alone offer a reason to visit — try some broiled.
3655 S. Durango Drive, Suite 6, Las Vegas, NV 89147
Pachi-Pachi
Photo: The interior of the bar (Madeline Carter/rjmagazine).
Bars | Downtown
From the mind of Branden Powers, a longtime Vegas hospitality figure, comes Pachi-Pachi, a collision of graphic design, scenic installations, murals, anime and a grab bag of sacred symbols and quotations from modern art, all meant to conjure the febrile energy of a Tokyo back alley. The cocktails fit the vibe, like a Suntory Toki Whisky old-fashioned washed with wagyu beef tallow for a savory velvet effect. World Famous Ghost Noodles — chopsticks seemingly held by an invisible hand above a snarl of egg noodles with bok choy — anchor the food side.
211 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite 120, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Partage
Photo: Tasting menu items. (Anastasiia Gaines).
French | Chinatown
The restaurant presents a pleasurable moving target, offering five-, seven- and nine-course tasting menus that change monthly and seasonally. Each course is a surprise, although you might find duck breast layered with foie gras or a spread of Brillat-Savarin cheese with adjutants. The tasting menus may be added to with caviar, seasonal truffle, seared foie gras, Louis XIII Cognac or pairings of French wines from the outstanding list. Begin the evening with a flute of bubbles at Le Club by Partage, a Champagne bar with savory bites next door.
3839 Spring Mountain Road, Las Vegas, NV 89102
Piero's Italian Cuisine
Photo: Freddie’s pork and beef meatballs with whipped ricotta (Chris Wessling).
Italian | Central
This avatar of Old Vegas cool, a filming location for the 1995 film “Casino,” debuted almost 45 years ago, opening first on Karen Avenue from 1982 to 1987, then moving to its current location on Convention Center Drive. In May 2025, founder Freddie Glusman sold the Piero's operation to Amazing Brands, but even with new owners, the restaurant continues to attract Las Vegas notables and others who appreciate the atmosphere and Italian classics.
355 Convention Center Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Pinky's by Vanderpump
Photo: Birthday Baby cocktail (Benjamin Hager).
American | Strip | Flamingo Las Vegas
A painting of Lisa Vanderpump, the restaurateur and reality TV star, riding sidesaddle on a giant flamingo, holding a martini aloft, with Puffy, her Pomeranian, in a tux at her side, commands the entrance to the restaurant, where art deco meets Miami supper club. The menu invites grazing over tangy goat cheese balls, crisp rice bites capped by seafood, and a baked Alaska glow-up with strata of Neapolitan semifreddo, madeleine tart, vanilla shortbread, meringue and fruit. Want to drink your dessert instead? Try a Birthday Baby cocktail garnished with a pink flamingo and a macaron.
3555 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Pisces
Photo: Osetra caviar and Balik salmon bites (Eric Jamison).
International | Strip | Wynn Las Vegas
Fish leather is a thing, made by tanning fish skins, including removing the scales. The leather upholsters the chairs at Pisces, just one of thousands of design details (large and small) that makes the restaurant among the most gorgeous in the city. The menu takes the same care. Consider a daily selection of oysters sustainably sourced from around the world; dab the oysters with a hit of house hot sauce. Mediterranean fish are flown in daily, too, like whole grilled orata (sea bream) treated with a classic Mediterranean combo of tomatoes, spinach, thyme and olives.
3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Ramen Boys
Photo: Signature RB ramen (Ramen Boys).
Asian and Pacific Island | Chinatown
Ramen is the new barbecue or pizza, in the sense that people possess strong opinions about what constitutes the best and what doesn't measure up to standards. Which makes it all the more impressive that the quality of the ramen at Ramen Boys is so widely acknowledged. Signature RB ramen features a silky pork and chicken broth, properly firm and chewy thick noodles, a tender round of chashu pork and a hit of soy-cured egg. Tonkotsu ramen proceeds from a creamy, velvety pork broth stocked with thin noodles, chashu pork and toothsome wood ear mushroom.
3650 S. Decatur Blvd., Suite 3, Las Vegas, NV 89103
Rang's Cocina Moderne
Photo: Foie gras truffle mushroom risotto (Benjamin Hager).
International | Spring Valley
Rang's is named for chef Rachelle “Rang” Tan, who owns the restaurant with her husband, Benedict Tan. The menu braids together Tan's Filipino, Spanish and Chinese heritage with Italian influences and her culinary training in Manila. Lengua salpicao features fat, tender cubes of beef tongue sautéed in garlic and soy sauce, with baguette ovals. Follow with deeply savory foie gras truffle mushroom risotto. The chef tosses spaghettini with aligue, a paste made from the fat and roe of Asian shore crabs. The aligue imparts a light brine and richness that still tastes clean.
5900 W. Charleston Blvd., Suite 11, Las Vegas, NV 89146
Restaurant Guy Savoy
Photo: The terrace room of the restaurant (Caesars Entertainment Inc.).
French | Strip | Caesars Palace
In May, this eponymous restaurant, from another legendary French chef showered with a constellation of Michelin stars, marked two decades since it arrived at Caesars Palace, an offshoot of the Paris original. Signature artichoke and black truffle soup with toasted mushroom and black truffle butter is as winning as ever. Annual visits by Savoy offer diners the opportunity to meet the chef and experience special menus.
3570 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Rí Rá Irish Pub
Photo: The interior of the pub (Anthony Mair).
Bars | Strip | Mandalay Bay
Vintage materials salvaged from Ireland or restored from Irish originals compose the spaces at Rí Rá: The Shop bar inspired by a pub owned by the family of a Rí Rá founder, The Victorian bar with a black limestone counter, The Whiskey Bar with oak floors from an old distillery and The Bordello Room summoning the opulence of bygone pleasure houses. The atmosphere adds to the enjoyment of Irish stouts and ales, a Dark and Stormy, an Irish Coffee built from Powers Irish Whiskey, and some of the rarest whiskeys on the Strip. For sharing: sausage rolls and deviled Scotch eggs.
3930 Las Vegas Blvd. South, NV 89119
RPM Italian
Photo: Clockwise from front, chicken Vesuvio, cacio e pepe and lobster fra diavolo (Chase Stevens).
Italian | Strip | Forum Shops at Caesars
One of the chief pleasures of the Strip is sitting at the bar here to sip an olive oil martini. The oil infuses the vodka, endowing it with weight and silky texture. Customize the cocktail with aromatic rosemary sprigs and a selection of savory olives. Other pleasures await in the dining room. Some of the best cacio e pepe in Vegas harnesses ruffled mafaldine pasta. Black truffles impart earthiness to chicken Vesuvio with charred lemon and crisp potatoes. Maine lobster fra diavolo rests on a tangle of spicy spaghetti pomodoro; breezy Genovese basil tops the dish.
3500 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Sartiano's Italian Steakhouse
Photo: Miniature cannoli with whipped mascarpone, Osetra caviar and chives (Sabin Orr).
Steakhouses | Strip | Wynn Las Vegas
Sartiano's, an outpost of the New York City original, comes courtesy of hospitality impresario Scott Sartiano. In Vegas as in Gotham, legendary chef Alfred Portale is culinary director of the restaurant. Vegas native Michael Rubinstein leads the kitchen as executive chef. The 10-ounce New York strip steak embodies the ideal for the dish: expertly butchered, adroitly seasoned, tender but never flabby, richly flavored without too much fat. Gently crisp miniature cannoli shells feature whipped mascarpone, briny pops of Osetra caviar and a flurry of emerald chives.
3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Scotch 80 Prime
Photo: Longganisa sausage, bone marrow and pickled slaw for stuffing in Hawaiian rolls (Benjamin Hager).
Steakhouses | Central | Palms
Executive chef Marty Lopez knows his way around tasty things in buns. Hawaiian rolls are stuffed with longganisa Filipino sausage, smeared with bone marrow, jabbed with red onion and cilantro, and brightened by pickled papaya. Wagyu short rib, chorizo, chickpeas and ribbons of pappardelle, an unexpected combination, make for a deeply savory sort of stew-ragù. Scotch 80 has an impressively sourced Japanese beef program, and it's one of only 10 restaurants in Vegas (at last check) authorized to serve true Kobe beef by the Kobe trade association.
4321 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89103
Settebello Pizza Napoletana
Photo: Carbonara pizza (rjmagazine).
Italian | West
Settebello follows the rules set down by Neapolitan pizza officials on ingredients, dough, cooking time and equipment to produce pies that are properly elastic, with easily folded or rolled up slices, and with roasty char spots spattering the crust. A classic Margherita embodies the Neapolitan pizza art: shaped by hand, crushed tomatoes, puddles of mozzarella, Parmesan, olive oil and fresh basil. A carbonara pizza convenes on crust the classic carbonara ingredients, including 36-month-aged Parmigiano-Reggiano. Pizzas keep best ordered one at a time.
9350 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 170, Las Vegas, NV 89117
ShangHai Taste
Photo: Xiao long bao (L.E. Baskow).
Asian and Pacific Island | Chinatown
Although ShangHai Taste has expanded to southwest Vegas and to sibling restaurants in Los Angeles and Texas, the snug Chinatown original remains the soul of the group. Almost six years on, folks still crowd in for what are widely considered the city's best xiao long bao: handmade with a filling of ground pork and hot pork broth, delicate enough to finish in one bite, sturdy enough to bulge without bursting and spilling the contents. Feeling indulgent? Try the dumplings with crab yolk filling. Sheng jian bao, the chewy pan-fried cousins of xiao long bao, are also served.
4266 Spring Mountain Road, Suite 104A, Las Vegas, NV 89102
Sivas Vegas Mediterranean Grill & Lounge
Photo: Grilled lamb and beef kofte iskender (rjmagazine).
International | Spring Valley
Sivas serves Turkish food that is halal friendly, or permissible under Islamic dietary law. Spicy sujuk sausage and eggs, menemen scrambled-egg shakshuka, cheese flatbread and a host of sides (fresh vegetables, olives, cheeses, spreads and more) compose a Turkish breakfast. Kebabs constitute a point of pride for the restaurant. A kofte iskender kebab features seasoned and gently charred ground beef and lamb in savory tomato sauce, all atop chunks of pita to soak up the sauce. A drift of tangy creamy yogurt plays foil on the side.
4850 W. Flamingo Road, Suite 31, Las Vegas, NV 89103,
Slater's 50/50 Bacon Burgers Beer
Photo: Angus beef P.B. & Jellousy burger (Slater’s 50/50 Bacon Burgers Beer).
American | West
If fried potato tots sluiced with green chile queso and flatbread lined with barbecued pork belly and burger colossi listing beneath their own weight are working, forget minimalism. At Slater's 50/50, excess breeds success. The 24K Burger still swaggers, stacking a half-pound of wagyu, thick-cut bacon dusted in 24-karat gold, truffled cheese and jalapeño bacon jam between 24 karat-dusted brioche. For a sort of Monte Cristo spin, look to the P.B. & Jellousy with Angus beef, thick-cut bacon, natural peanut butter and strawberry jelly on a honey wheat bun.
7511 W. Lake Mead Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89128
Spago
Photo: Spiked lemon dessert (MGM Resorts International).
American | Strip | Bellagio
Although there were a handful of well-known chefs earlier in Vegas, many date the birth of the modern fine dining movement in the city to the arrival of Wolfgang Puck and his Spago at the Forum Shops at Caesars in 1992 (moving to Bellagio in 2018). Puck, already famous for his California restaurants, brought credibility and Spago's California cuisine to a town still strongly identified with buffets. The legendary smoked salmon pizza is still on Spago's menu.
3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Sparrow + Wolf
Photo: Platter of six types of snacks from land and sea (Benjamin Hager).
American | Chinatown
Chef Brian Howard's restaurant is as challenging as ever (in the best sense) to pin down: a modern American spot, with international accents (often Asian), a frequently changing menu and a chef willing to follow his urges. But elusive also enthralls. A platter of six snacks presents baubles of land and sea, including wood-roasted Isaan Thai sausage, a dry-aged bluefin tuna taco and grilled oysters hit with sweet, citrusy kumquat Mae Ploy. Top a heap of roasted bone marrow rice with Ibérico pork and chubby sinigang steamed clams, then lift the bowl to eat, street-style.
4480 Spring Mountain Road, Suite 100, Las Vegas, NV 89102
Spring by China Mama
Photo: Wrappers and fillings for spring wraps (Spring by China Mama).
Asian and Pacific Island | Central
This higher-end member of the China Mama group opened in May 2024 to showcase thin wheat pancakes wrapping around vegetables and proteins that are anointed with house hoisin and slivered scallions. The fixings arrive on a trolley. Roast duck is an expected pleasure, but wraps with scrambled eggs or potato strings goosed by jalapeños are equally appealing. Beyond the wraps, you can't go wrong with a chewy snarl of jellyfish dappled with chili paste or a heap of duck chow mein with shredded lettuce and fried garlic.
4480 Paradise Road, Suite 700A, Las Vegas, NV 89169
Stay Tuned Burgers
Photo: Double smashburger with potato tots (Stay Tuned Burgers).
American | Downtown
Some of the best smashburgers — no, some of the best burgers period — in Vegas issue from the grill at Stay Tuned inside the Hard Hat Lounge, a cheerfully divey bar at the edge of downtown. Less is more with the menu: a single or double smashburger with fixings (and vegan options), a pile of potato tots (plain, cheesy, loaded) and a grilled cheese sandwich. The burgers feature patties with crisp, lacy edges, onions (cooked, raw or both), the tangy snap of pickles, rivulets of sauce coursing down the sides and soft buns soaking up the juices. Cheez Whiz is sold as a side.
1675 S. Industrial Road, Las Vegas, NV 89102
Taco Escobar
Photo: Trio of tacos (Taco Escobar).
Mexican and Latin American | Downtown
The name of the taqueria nods to a famous luchador. The menu runs to a half-dozen or so tacos, including Baja grilled or battered fish, pollo calling on richly flavored grilled chicken thighs, and a camarón made with roasted shrimp and charred scallions. An Escobar-style taco swaps the tortilla for a crisp fried cheese shell. Quesabirria tacos, two per order, arrive with traditional consommé for dunking. A Guadalajara-style hot dog wraps a beef dog in bacon strips and dresses everything with guajillo chile sauce, chipotle crema, pico de gallo and pickled onions.
509 Fremont St., Las Vegas, NV 89101
Tamba
Photo: Spread of dishes (Anthony Mair).
Indian | South
About 18 months after relocating and reopening, Tamba has come into its own as a sleek avatar of modern Indian cooking. The James Beard Foundation named Tamba a finalist for Best New Restaurant, a national category, in the 2026 awards competition. The kitchen has a way with hamachi, endowing it with tangy, whisper-umami tamarind ponzu. Octopus charred on a tawa pan emerges from a josper live-fire oven. For bhuna gobi, cauliflower is josper charred, then balanced with green curry and broccoli purée. Vegan? Think spiced okra with pickled mango masala.
6671 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Suite A117, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Vesta Coffee Roasters
Photo: A cruffin (Mikayla Whitmore).
American | Downtown
In a neighborhood where a new coffee shop appears on a regular basis, Vesta Coffee Roasters remains at the top of the heap. The minimalist, black-and-white interior allows a full embrace of the menu, which showcases in-house roasted coffee and a selection of house specialties and seasonal drinks, each full of flavor and comfort. Owner Jerad Howard's food ranges from cafe to deli-lite, and it has only gotten better since opening 10 years ago. Elevated breakfast sandwiches, toasts, baked goods and salads round out the menu.
1114 S. Casino Center Blvd., Suite 1, Las Vegas, NV 89104
Wakuda
Photo: The dining room of the restaurant (Wakuda Las Vegas).
Asian and Pacific Island | Strip | The Venetian
Tetsuya Wakuda, the famed global chef, opened Wakuda, his first U.S. restaurant, in 2022. The long entryway still feels vibrant — neon flowers and characters inspired by Tokyo streetscapes — leading to a dining room where cherry blossom trees frame sculpted sumo wrestlers facing off. The delicate crunch of tempura vegetables changes seasonally. Kanpachi carpaccio delivers pristine, subtly sweet flavor. Nori “taco” shells enclose wagyu and king crab. Begin or end the evening with a whisky-and-ginger Golden Gai Cure cocktail at the Golden Gai lounge inside Wakuda.
3325 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109
White Whale
Photo: White Whale Dirty Martini (Eugene Dela Cruz/OneSeven Agency).
Bars | Downtown
Like the obsessive pursuit of the white whale in the novel “Moby-Dick,” White Whale the bar obsessively pursues mixological bliss. Evan Hosaka and Daniel Yang, veterans of Wakuda and the Cocktail Collective at The Venetian and the Poodle Room at the Fontainebleau, direct the search for nirvana. Consider that achieved with a White Whale Espresso made distinctive with Weber Ranch agave vodka, or a White Whale Dirty Martini delivering mouthfeel through fat-washed Botanist gin or Haku vodka. Reserve the Captain's Quarters speakeasy for bartender's choice cocktails
111 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Wild Fig BBQ
Photo: Wagyu brisket (Wild Fig BBQ).
American | Northwest
Word of Wild Fig has spread from its home, tucked away in Summerlin, to the wider Las Vegas Valley and beyond. And that word is: splendid barbecue. Wild Fig mostly operates as a takeout place, with picnic tables outside. Bulk buying is the order of the day, with smoked turkey breast, pulled pork, smoked tri-tip, brisket (thick-sliced or chopped), a brawny giant beef rib and more, all sold by the pound. Sides like Mexican corn salad and meaty beans begin at a pint and size up to a half pan. Do not miss the poblano cheddar corn muffins, the model foil for barbecue (and sop for juices).
9555 Del Webb Blvd., Las Vegas, NV 89134
Xiang Wei Xuan
Photo: Braised tofu in chili oil (rjmagazine).
Asian and Pacific Island | Chinatown
The cooking of Hunan in south central China, known for its boldly flavored food, and rice noodles from Guilin, lying south of the Hunan border, meet at this comforting Chinatown standout. Cucumber salad kicks with garlic and slicks with chili oil, delivering a punch of crunch and heat. For deeply savory braised tofu, strips of bean curd are cooked in a garlic and chili braising liquid and tossed with fiery chili oil. Round, bouncy rice noodles with braised beef, pork and pork intestine starts as a dry dish. Midway through, you add broth to the bowl to make a soup.
6000 Spring Mountain Road, Suite 2B, Las Vegas, NV 89146
Yukon Pizza
Photo: Co-owner Alex White (Chase Stevens).
Italian | Downtown
In April, StarChefs, the national restaurant industry publication that celebrates hospitality talent, announced its 2026 class of Vegas Rising Stars, honoring Yukon for its community engagement. Star Chefs recognized what locals already knew about the pizzeria's water and food drop-offs, fundraiser pies and more. Yukon's sourdough crust, soft yet substantial, begins with a family starter more than 125 years old. A Neapolitan-inspired Margherita never disappoints. The Y-Train nods to New York-style tomato sauce and toppings like oregano and roasted garlic.
1130 E. Charleston Blvd., Suite 160, Las Vegas, NV 89104
Yun Noodle & Dumplings
Photo: Lanzhou beef noodle soup (rjmagazine).
Asian and Pacific Island | Spring Valley
Lanzhou noodles, hand pulled daily, star in versions of Lanzhou beef noodles, one of the most popular dishes across China. A big bowl of the soup touches down, chockablock with springy noodles, diced beef, leek, cilantro and daikon radish. The soup comes in other styles: with ribeye, cubed marinated beef, black garlic, spicy sesame sauce and the flowery heat of Sichuan peppercorns. On the dumpling side, look for traditional xiao long bao stuffed with crab and pork, newfangled banana chocolate XLB and juicy pan-fried dumplings plumped with beef and onion.
4001 S. Decatur Blvd., Suite 35, Las Vegas, NV 89103
Zaytoon Restaurant & Market
Photo: Koobideh kebab (rjmagazine).
International | West
This Persian restaurant and Mediterranean market (Zaytoon is Persian for “olive”) offers aash-e-reshteh, a hearty vegetarian soup stocked with reshteh noodles and a flurry of fresh herbs. Thick, tangy kashk dairy paste and crisp aromatic fried mint top the soup. Zaytoon is rightly praised for its kebabs, like beautifully seasoned koobideh or whole Cornish game hen that is sliced, marinated and grilled. Fesenjaan, the iconic Persian stew, features chicken breast slow cooked in a sauce of ground walnut (for rich thickening) and pomegranate (for brightness and a bit of sweetness).
3655 S. Durango Drive, Suites 11-14, Las Vegas, NV 89147
