CES 2019 Alternative Restaurant Guide
If you’re attending the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, you understand that preparation is the key to survival. As in any harsh desert environment, food and water will be essential.
Good news, though: there are endless breakfast, lunch, and dinner options for CES 2019 attendees and exhibitors. We created a short list of some of our favorites near the LVCC, Downtown, and farther afield.
(Sort of) Near The LVCC and Sands
The LVCC is essentially an Imperial star destroyer, but with less personality and fewer amenities. One of life’s great mysteries is why there aren’t more food options inside or adjacent to the Center (Tech East), since so many people attend shows there on a regular basis. However, if you’re willing to take a brisk stroll there are a few options.
The Peppermill
This symphony in ’80s pink and blue is on the Strip, .8 miles from the LVCC’s front entrance. Huge menu, huge portions, lots of seating, and an amazing lounge area (with circular fire pit). It’s the kind of place you arrive at only to find DeNiro is already there waiting for you. 2985 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Piero’s
The oldest of old-school vibes, this Italian classic is pricey but close (it’s literally on Convention Center Drive). Scenes from Casino were filmed there, and the restaurant includes an entire room dedicated to former UNLV basketball coach Jerry Tarkanian. Opens at 5:30pm. 355 Convention Center Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Fat Choy
Food-truck-born Fat Choy is a decadent crowd-pleaser a few blocks north of the Westgate. The “elevated diner” offers up a shortrib grilled cheese, pork belly bao, the highly-recommended Fat Choy Burger (with fried egg and onion jam) and other down-home mashups. 595 E Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89104
Tacos El Gordo
The lines are long, but move very quickly, and the ambiance is challenging. However, for authentic Mexican at decent prices this is the place. Sunday through Thursday: 10pm to 2am. 3049 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Envy Steakhouse
Envy’s atmosphere and food are decent, but its primary advantage is proximity to the monorail and the LVCC. Only open for breakfast and dinner, which is a bummer. However, breakfast runs til 11am, so it’s perfect for late-morning staff or client meetings. 3400 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89169
Hash House A Go Go
Find yourself on the Sands Expo/Venetian side of things, but not feeling The Grand Lux Cafe or Chipotle? The Strip location of Hash House in the LINQ hotel offers hearty, intriguing options such as the “Big O Sage Fried Chicken and Waffle Tower,” the “Tractor Driver Combo,” and the refreshingly honest “Old School Fried Mush.”
3535 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Firefly
Any Vegas food guide that doesn’t include Firefly cannot be taken seriously. Full stop. Tapas, great location, and the famed “reverse happy hour” Monday-Thursday from 11pm to 1am. 3824 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Grimaldi’s
Is it a basic pizza joint chain? Yes. But here’s the thing about Grimaldi’s: it’s connected to the Sands (in the Grand Canal Shops of the Palazzo), it has a lot of seating, the service was pretty nice when we went, and the pricing isn’t outrageous.
3327 S Las Vegas Blvd #2710, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Downtown
Staying on or visiting Fremont Street? Congratulations, in addition to being the world capital of yard-long margarita specials, downtown is now home to some of Vegas’ most interesting dining options. It’s also a twelve-minute cab ride from the LVCC (without traffic, that is).
Eat
Worth it. Superlative comfort food, very nice portion sizes. We recommend the corned beef hash two poached eggs & sourdough toast combo. Open for breakfast and lunch only. 707 Carson (at 7th) Las Vegas, NV 89101
Le Thai
Excellent service, excellent food. You have to make your reservation via Yelp at least 3 hours early, but don’t worry, there are plenty of places next door to have a cocktail while you wait. Open 11am to 11pm. 523 Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Downtown Container Park
As part of downtown’s resurgence, the park’s retail offerings are paired with many great food options, like Big Ern’s BBQ, Pinches Tacos, and the sit-down Downtown Terrace. Check hours for each place, they fluctuate depending on the day and season.
Park on Fremont
The elevated comfort food is almost secondary to the beautifully-curated outdoor space. Open daily, but with varying hours for breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and late night guests. Great beer menu, and reservations are recommended. 506 Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Nacho Daddy
You work hard, you deserve gourmet nachos. Also features all-day breakfast and a full vegan menu. Do NOT take the Scorpion Shot (as seen on Food Network) unless you understand the consequences. 707 Fremont St, Las Vegas, NV 89101
VegeNation
A blessedly non-GMO, plant-forward alternative with the slogan “Good food for the good of all.” Try the portobello mushroom sliders w/ sriracha aioli, or the organic sweet potato quesadilla black beans w/chipotle crema. 616 Carson Ave #120, Las Vegas, NV 89101
Basic, Cheap, Pretty Good
Do you have a car, or a generous private transportation budget? These lo-fi, high-quality options off the Strip are perfect for quick bites and local color.
Block 16
While it’s hard to call anything in The Cosmopolitan “cheap,” at least the hotel is making an attempt to offer halfway-affordable options to conference-goers. Taking a cue from the “food hall” trend, you’ll find elevated street food including sushi, sandwiches, tacos, and more. 3708 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Harrie’s Bagelmania
A true Vegas institution, Bagelmania’s strip-mall setting and scruffy surroundings may give pause to the first-time visitor, but it’s the real deal. Open for breakfast and lunch only. Try the potato knish and the fried matzo with onions. 855 E Twain Ave # 120, Las Vegas, NV 89169
Big Wong
The name says it all. Big menu, big appetizers (try the wontons), perfect for big groups. Big Wong regularly shows up on all the “cheap eats” lists, but the meals are excellent. Open 10am to 11pm. 5040 Spring Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89146
Fries N Pies
Eater Las Vegas loves this place, which offers a wild mashup of pizza and poutine options. Biggest surprise? The broccoli pizza crust (also available as a base for the poutine). Near UNLV, across from the Hard Rock. 4503 Paradise Rd #350, Las Vegas, NV 89169
Marilyn’s Café
A nice surprise in the Tuscany Hotel on Flamingo Road. Three-minute cab from the Sands Expo Center and open 24 hours. High value for the $ too. The “Las Vegas Winner,” for example, gives you 3 eggs scrambled with cheddar cheese, hash browns or grits, 2 sausage links, 2 bacon strips, and pancakes for $8.99. 255 E Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89169
In-N-Out Burger
A little bit of a cheat, since In-N-Out’s once-cult reputation is now worldwide. But it’s worth remembering the location out by UNLV (and close to the airport) that probably won’t get a lot of convention traffic. 4705 S Maryland Pkwy, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Whole Foods
Prevention may be the best cure for hunger. It’s probably worth hitting the grocery store for supplies before the show starts, especially since there are no legit grocers further down on the strip, downtown, or by the convention center. This location is 5 minutes from McCarran’s rental car center, and just two miles from Mandalay Bay. Plus, staples like water, power bars, bagels, etc. will be WAY cheaper than the hotel prices. 6689 S Las Vegas Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89119
Field Trips
Sometimes you just need to be free. Get out there! Vegas is a huge city with all kinds of interesting places beyond the Strip!
Fukuburger
Inventive, high-calorie fun in Vegas’ Chinatown. Try the Kinoko burger with “grilled shitake mushrooms, pickled red ginger, teriyaki, and finished with wasabi mayo.” Counter service only, open til 1am. Also check the schedule for their food truck. 3429 S Jones Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89146
The Hush Puppy
“Vegas institution” is a term thrown around quite loosely, but The Hush Puppy has a legit claim. Low-key and down-home, it’s a southern food outpost with two locations. One’s on the east side at 1820 N Nellis Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89110, and the other is out towards Red Rocks at 7185 W Charleston Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89117. Dinner only.
El Dorado Cantina
Yes, it’s adjacent to a strip club, in a location triangulated by the interstate, Circus Circus, and a haphazard casino construction site. Now the good news: it’s surprisingly upscale, relatively affordable, primarily organic, about five minutes by cab from the Strip, and open 24 hours. 3025 Sammy Davis Jr Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Barcelona Tapas
The Artisan Hotel location on Sahara (near I-15) offers a well-priced, very nice “Fiesta Hour” menu Sunday through Friday from 3pm to 6pm. Features classics like mac & cheese, stuffed artichoke, croquetas, sliders, and … of course … sangria. Lots of sangria. 1501 W Sahara Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89102
Crab Corner Maryland Seafood House
Sometimes you just need seafood, doesn’t matter where you are. Crab Corner understands, offering a Chesapeake dining experience in an unassuming strip mall location about 15 minutes from McCarran via car. Affordable and good service. Perfect for lunch on your way in or out of Vegas. 6485 S Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89118
Culinary Dropout
Located in the Hard Rock Hotel, the “elevated pub fare” and spacious seating make for a fresh, attractive alternative to nearby Hofbrauhaus, Lowry’s, or Gordon Biersch. 4455 Paradise Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89169
The Golden Tiki
As the name might suggest, Golden Tiki commits hard to the tiki lifestyle. The menu skews towards heavy appetizers versus full-on entrees, but the far-flung drink options summon the ghost of Trader Vic. Might make a nice drinks/dinner combo with the numerous Asian restaurants on the block. 3939 Spring Mountain Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89102
Komex Fusion
This Korean-Mexican mashup makes dishes that dreams are made of, such as the Stir Fried Veggie Burrito, the Fusion Bulgogi Cheesesteak, or the absolutely gonzo Fusion Tater Tots. The modest strip-mall location is about 10 minutes from downtown.Call for hours before going. 633 N Decatur Blvd h, Las Vegas, NV 89107
PKWY Tavern
You have an extra day before or after the show to bum around. You decide to visit Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. But what to eat? PKWY Tavern’s surprisingly solid bar food menu makes for a fun stop before or after, and they have a very large beer selection.
450 S Rampart Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89145
