If there's one thing I love more than travel, it's food. Mealtime is always the highlight of my day, and for me, honestly, the best thing about travelling anywhere is the food.
...And this brings me to Las Vegas.
Las Vegas, hand on heart, has some of the best food I've ever experienced.
The sheer concentration of amazing restaurants in Vegas is absolutely mind blowing. Picking where to eat is an absolutely gargantuan task, and quite often we end up visiting well over 3 restaurants in one day just because we don't want to miss out on something good.
So without beating about the bush too much, here are a few of my favourite restaurants in Las Vegas. Some are extremely well known, some are extremely decadent, and some are just hidden gems that (in my humble opinion) really deserve a mention. In no particular order, here goes:
Monta Noodle
I've eaten a lot of Ramen in my life, and while I don't think there are many places that can compete with Japan, Monta is almost certainly the best ramen I've found in North America. The shoyu ramen broth just bursts with flavour like you wouldn't believe. It's nothing fancy, and there are no weird experimental ingredients. It's just solid ramen that will knock your socks off.
We'd heard a lot of amazing things about the gyoza here, but honestly, the ramen deserves all the attention.
Island Flavor
Did you know that Las Vegas has a large Hawaiian population? As a result, the Hawaiian food is actually some of the best you'll find on the American mainland. And if you're looking for Hawaiian food in Las Vegas, you have to go to Island Flavor. The furikake chicken is so addictive, I would have a serious problem if there was one near me.
Island Flavor isn't located anywhere near the strip, but there are at least 3 dotted around the city. It's a relatively no frills takeout spot, so grab it to go and devour it at home or in your hotel room.
Poke Express
If you like Poke, Poke Express should be the first place you visit next time you're in Las Vegas. Again, this is not really somewhere you'd go for a fancy meal, and in fact, Poke Express is more like a Fishmonger than a restaurant. Fill your container with a huge variety of poke, and then eat it in your car (like us).
Seriously the best poke I've ever had, anywhere, and the variety of types on offer is unbelievable. There are two branches in Las Vegas, but you'll need a car if you want to go!
Picasso
Picasso is our first restaurant on this list that you'll find on the strip, and it's quite possibly one of the best restaurants in Las Vegas, with the hefty price tag to boot. The Picasso is located in the Bellagio Hotel and has two michelin Stars. Expect exceptional food, with incredible wine pairings (last time we were given a Riesling with notes of Gasoline).
But while you can find amazing food around virtually every corner in Las Vegas, what is absolutely unique to Picasso is the atmosphere. Why? Because you can eat your meal outside, directly in front of the Bellagio water fountain. Having a private balcony to view one of the most famous and iconic fountain displays in the world is almost worth the price tag in itself!
Lago
Lago is a slightly less expensive restaurant that also just happens to be located in the Bellagio Hotel. But when I say slightly less expensive, it's still definitely pretty pricey.
Lago is an Italian restaurant that specialises in small plates. They do simply Italian dishes but elevate them to something spectacular. I still deam about their red wine and burrata risotto.
Momofuku
Momofuku is arguably one of the most well known and highly regarded Asian fusion restaurants in Las Vegas, created by legendary chef, David Chang. It's famous for its ramen, bao and Shishito Peppers, but you really can't go wrong with any of it!
If you're in Vegas and you're on a bit of a tight budget (hey, it happens), you can usually visit Momofuku and get a slightly cheaper meal at lunchtime.
Oh, and don't forget to visit Milk Bar next door when you've finished, for a restaurant that exclusively makes cakes and desserts!
Tacos El Gordo
There are places that you want to enjoy for dinner, and then there are places you need when it's 2am and you've just left the club and you're starving. Failing that, there are places you need when you're just looking for a good taco! Tacos El Gordo checks both of those boxes.
The tacos are out of this world, so order twice as many as you think you can eat. The adobada is what most people are after, but you really can't go wrong with any of the options.
Yardbird
Yardbird is my new favourite place to eat in Las Vegas. If you like Southern food, you're going to love it here too. Grits, chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy, housemade pickles; they're all on the menu here, and they're all exceptionally well executed.
This is a great spot to pick for the day after a big night out in Las Vegas. A bit of greasy food is the perfect pick me up after a long night out in Sin City.
Gordon Ramsay Steak
I have to say, I went into this restaurant thinking it would be overrated. I didn't want to pay an arm and a leg for overrated steak, and I thought there's no way it could live up to the hype. I have to say, I was very, very pleasantly surprised with Gordon Ramsay Steak.
To begin, the steaks are brought out on a mirrored tray, where you're given the opportunity to inspect and scrutinise your cut from all angles. Then it comes out a few minutes later and is absolutely unfathomably delicious.
I honestly can't recommend it enough, particularly if you have a big group of carnivores. Wash it down with some red wine and you can't go wrong!
Final thoughts
There are literally hundreds of incredible restaurants in Las Vegas, and this list is by no means the definitive list. This is just a chance for me to share some restaurants I've had a fantastic experience with. I could keep writing for weeks about all the amazing restaurants you'll find in Vegas, but hopefully this will (at least) give you some ideas for your next visit!
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