Splurging on a peak culinary experience is as essential in Vegas as catching a show or cruising the Strip to be dazzled by the lights. Las Vegas is a hub for fine dining, and a magnet for chefs looking to display their talent and create their own menus. Top restauranteurs choose Vegas because they can attract high caliber talent for the kitchen while fulfilling their vision of uniquely designed interior spaces and soundscapes. Dedicated foodies, take note, you’ll find Michelin-starred restaurants without leaving the Strip.
Culinary offerings cover the globe. Las Vegas is home to celebrity chefs inspired by the cuisine of South America, Pacific Rim, coastal Italy, Shanghai and more. Style-wise, you’ll find a range of environments, from low-key food truck vibes to date-night to trendy scenes – and everything in between. Wondering where to eat during your stay in Las Vegas? Here are six incredible dining destinations that will have you traveling the world without leaving the Strip.
Tips for dining in Vegas
Three things to keep in mind. First, it’s always a good idea to make a reservation. The most popular Las Vegas restaurants fill up fast. Luck is possible – this is Vegas after all – but advance planning means you will have a table waiting for you. Also, some establishments have dress codes and age requirements. Check ahead and style yourself accordingly. If you’re traveling with kids, call ahead and ask about entertainment hours. Some places have DJs, and the music can give the restaurant a club vibe – something you might want to avoid when you’re feeding the family.
Fusion on the Strip with the flavors of Miami and LA
1. Lorena Garcia is the first Latina chef on the Las Vegas Strip. An award-winning chef and TV icon, her success extends far outside the kitchen. Try her restaurant, CHICA at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, which serves Latin fusion cuisine – a bright, flavorful array of items that combine concepts from all over Central and South America. Garcia’s style is grounded in traditional dishes – which started with her family’s recipe books. Open for brunch and dinner, you’ll find dishes like Oaxacan Rotisserie Chicken and the Venezuelan Braised Short Rib on the dinner menu and for brunch you might try the dulce de leche French toast. Yum!
“When you open a restaurant, you want to condense it into the minimum expression, and then as you grow, you grow the menu with it,” says Lorena Garcia.
2. Roy Choi’s Best Friend is fun, bold and casual, with the bright colors in the décor reflected in the bright flavors of Choi’s Mexican-Korean fusion dishes. Choi is responsible for popularizing the chef-helmed food truck craze and brings the lighthearted local vibe of food truck dining to this sit-down restaurant tucked into Park MGM Las Vegas. His famous Korean tacos are spiked with kimchi aged in the restaurant’s own kimchi fermentation room. There are noodle and rice bowls with additional items from his LA menu, plus a broad offering of Korean BBQ, of course. DJs spin vinyl to soundtrack your Koreatown-style dining adventures.
“The whole idea behind Best Friend was to bring a capsule of L.A. to Vegas. The L.A. I know.” - Roy Choi on Best Friend Concept
Elevated European dining, Vegas-style
3. For an over-the-top dining experience, preorder the suckling pig at Bazaar Meat by José Andrés. Supplement that with the shareable tapas-style plates made famous by Andrés; even the steaks are prepared for sharing. French architect/designer Philippe Starck created the expansive space at SAHARA Las Vegas; the finest of cured meats are displayed like art and the grill and fire pit are all performance. The menu includes cotton candy with foie gras – that’s the kind of adventure you’re in for. While the menu includes seafood and a raw bar, this is a meat lover’s destination. Bazaar Meat is a must-visit steakhouse and fully delivers on the promise of an incredible meal and a memorable time.
“I will eat whatever makes me feel like a lion!” – José Andrés.
4. Michael Mina famed winner of a Michelin star, founder of MINA group which operates 30+ restaurants globally, and acclaimed celebrity chef welcomes patrons to Bardot Brasserie inside ARIA Resort & Casino. The elegant yet timeless renowned French restaurant provides classics with a twist from Mina’s culinary expertise. The menu includes traditional brasserie fare like French onion soup or the exquisite Bardot Wellington. The beverage list is extensive, especially the hand selected wines based on region of French origin and offering plenty of hand-crafted cocktails.
“People come to Vegas to be wowed,” shares Michael Mina.
5. Bobby Flay is the first chef to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and holds multiple Emmys for his television work, but it’s in the kitchen where he truly shines. Serving coastal Italian, Amalfi at Caesars Palace is Flay’s love letter to Italy. The menu emphasizes fresh seafood and handmade pasta; you will discover familiar Italian dishes updated with Flay’s touch. There’s a fish-market display front and center, staffed by a fishmonger with extensive knowledge of the top quality and incredibly fresh menu options.
"My head was buried in homemade pasta and saffron-scented fish broth as I brought the menu of my Italian dreams to life.” – Bobby Flay on Amalfi
Vegas stars include Michelin stars
6. Ming Yu’s jewel box restaurant Wing Lei at Wynn Las Vegas is the first Chinese restaurant in North America to earn a Michelin star. The décor is as lavish as the food, and the elegant gold and white interior evokes a Chinese brocade jewel box. Yu’s menu covers Shanghainese, Cantonese and Sichuan dishes, but you’ll find familiar American-style Chinese offerings too, like shrimp toast and General Tao’s chicken. Get the most out of your meal by ordering family-style and sharing. If you want to indulge, get the Imperial Peking Duck Tasting menu for the whole table.
“Food was a passion for my family, especially during Chinese New Year, when my family would gather and prepare a big, celebratory feast.” – Ming Yu
There’s more than dining on the Vegas menu
There’s so much more to experience in Las Vegas. While you’re building your Vegas itinerary, make time for Vegas’ exciting entertainment options. You know about the shows, but you can find your thrills on a zip line, take the stage and sing karaoke, or dance the night away. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, find the next-star chef on your wish list and start your Las Vegas adventure all over again.