Street Food Sushi And The Strip: A Vegas Food And Drink Experience

The epicurean scene in Nevada’s desert city crams in everything from big-name celebrity chefs to barbecue joints and microbreweries.

Aeralists twirling above your table, Picasso-themed bistros, deep-fried everything at the Heart Attack Grill… Las Vegas’s glitzy image and big-spending regulars mean its most expensive and decadently themed restaurants often steal the limelight. But in recent years a homegrown food scene has sprung up, with craft breweries and small wine bars complementing food trucks and wholesome cafes.

“I’d describe our food scene as experimental, culturally diverse and booming,” says Kimo Akiona, co-owner of Freemont Street’s hip brunch and coffee spot PublicUs. “Downtown and Chinatown are two foodie neighborhoods to explore: Downtown especially has quickly become home to some fun, progressive restaurants; it’s the heart and soul of old Las Vegas, where locals go to eat, drink and play.”

Head there to visit the Fremont Street Experience, a covered area of shops and arcades alongside barbecue joints, steakhouses and microbreweries; or rent a car and head out of town to find small homegrown wineries and cheesemakers. Still hungry? We’ve plated up a satisfying hotel built by a sushi empire and paired it with down-to-earth grazing tours that take in tacos, desserts, and some true “only in Vegas” mouthfuls – all bookable right here on Culture Trip…

Las Vegas is not short of high-end restaurants with spectacular menus |

Prepare for a taste adventure when you see this sign |

The sushi scene is strong here, including the worlds largest Nobu |

Where to Stay: the Hotel…

Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace

Boutique Hotel, Hotel

When chef Nobu Matsuhisa started his career as a humble pot-washer in Tokyo in the Sixties, he could have never foreseen the glamorous empire of sushi restaurants and lavish hotels that would one day bear his name. Set in the Caesar’s Palace complex, right in the thick of things, Vegas’s Nobu outpost channels the same minimalist aesthetic as its sibling venues (sakura-printed screens, polished earth tones), adding a lacquer of Japanese serenity to the still-present Vegas flashiness. The highlight of your stay is likely to be the world’s largest Nobu restaurant, with its mushroom-like lanterns and curvaceous private booths. Try the dishes that made Matsuhisa famous – and are still on the menu today – including the must-try fluffy battered rock shrimp tempura, and the buttery black cod with miso.

What To Do: The Experiences…

Secret Food Tours Las Vegas

Tours

One of Las Vegas’s biggest draws is its culinary diversity. You can snack your way around the world within the heady surrounds of The Strip, with stops at buffets, cabaret diners and brunch terraces as just some of the must dos. Get a local steer on the city’s epicurean highlights with this three-hour walking tour, which takes you into some of the hotel and resorts’ best patisseries and candy shops, as well as pizzerias, snack bars and burger joints.

Taco Tuesday Downtown Foodie Tour

Activities, Tours

“Over the years, Vegas has become quite the crossroad of different cultures which makes its way into our food scene,” says Akiona. “People are often surprised at how diverse the food scene is.” This e-scooter tour through Vegas’s hip Downtown celebrates the best of the city’s Mexican flavors. Mingle with fellow foodie travelers as you take to the streets on two wheels, snacking on tacos of the cheesy, beefy and porky variety. Save room for the deep-fried Oreos…

Las Vegas: Only on The Strip Food Tour

Activities, Tours

Seeing newlyweds stumble out of the Little White Chapel, multiple Elvis impersonators shooting the breeze, life-changing bets being placed and death-defying circus acts performing – there are a lot of “only in Vegas” experiences to be had in this town. Continue the theme on this guided tour of The Strip, where your local experts will introduce you to the celebrity chefs, candy sculptures and taco-themed weddings that make this city a one-off.