Eat well in Las Vegas without overpaying: the locals'-budget edition.
Eat well in Las Vegas for under €15 a plate: the places locals on a budget actually use.
Tacos El Gordo on the Las Vegas Strip is the Tijuana adobada counter where every taco runs $2.40 to $2.60 and four with a Mexican Coke clears the room.
TryAdobada, suadero, cabeza tacos $2.40-2.60 each
TipFour tacos and a soda for under $15; the adobada line is longest but moves fast, suadero and cabeza queues are shorter.
Earl of Sandwich at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas is the 24-hour Strip sandwich counter where hot sandwiches on fresh-baked bread run $9 to $12 any hour.
TryHot artisan sandwiches around $9-12
TipThe Original 1762 (roast beef, cheddar, horseradish) is the standard $9 order; queue moves fastest 03:00-06:00.
In-N-Out on West Sahara in Las Vegas is the close-to-Strip burger drive-thru where a Double-Double, fries and a vanilla shake combo runs $11 to $13.
TryDouble-Double, fries, shake combo around $11-13
TipAnimal Style, Protein Style and the Neapolitan shake are free off the secret menu; weekends after 23:00 the drive-thru is the fastest route.
Secret Pizza at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas is the hidden Strip slice counter where cheese and pepperoni run $6 to $7 a slice, two slices and a soda.
TryNew York-style slices, $6-7
TipTwo slices and a soda for $15 on the Strip is rare; standing room only, find it down the record-lined corridor on Level 3.
Pho Kim Long on Spring Mountain in Las Vegas is the 24-hour Chinatown pho landmark with rare-beef and brisket bowls at $11 to $13 even at 04:30 am.
TryBeef pho, large bowl $11-13
TipOpen 24 hours, a rare bird on Spring Mountain; rare and well-done brisket pho with extra basil and lime is the standing order.
Lee's Sandwiches on Spring Mountain Road in Las Vegas is the bakery banh mi counter where a dac biet combo runs $6 to $8 on a baguette baked in-house.
TryBanh mi dac biet combo $6-8
TipDac biet combo and a Vietnamese iced coffee for $10; the baguette is baked all day, ask for one straight out of the oven.
Capriotti's on West Sahara in Las Vegas is the original Vegas Capriotti's where the Bobbie (slow-roasted turkey, cranberry, stuffing) runs $11 small.
TryBobbie sandwich, small around $11, large $18
TipThe small Bobbie feeds one, the large feeds two; order online for pickup, the counter line peaks 12:00-13:00 every weekday.
Doña Maria Tamales on South Las Vegas Boulevard is the 1980 family tamale counter, three tamales with rice and beans for $11 to $14 in a no-frills room two.
TryRed pork tamale plate with rice and beans $11-14
TipTamales sell by the dozen for takeaway; smothered in red chile and topped with an egg is the breakfast plate locals order.
Roberto's Taco Shop on South Eastern in Henderson is the 80-location San Diego chain's local branch, where the California burrito (carne asada, fries, cheese.
TryCalifornia burrito $9-11, rolled tacos $6
TipCalifornia burrito and a horchata for $13; drive-thru open until midnight, ask for the rolled tacos as a side.
Crown Bakery on Spring Mountain Road in Las Vegas is the Korean-Chinese pastry counter since 2005, with red bean buns, mammoth bread and Asian cakes most.
TryKorean-Chinese pastries and buns $2-6
TipPick up a mammoth bread loaf for breakfast and a tray of red-bean buns for the room; second-floor cafe seating, free wifi, holds quiet most mornings.
Monta Ramen on Spring Mountain in Las Vegas is the Chinatown tonkotsu specialist where a 16-hour pork-bone broth bowl runs $13 with a $3 kaedama noodle.
TryTonkotsu ramen $13, kaedama noodle refill $3
TipAdd the $3 kaedama (extra noodles) to finish the broth; lunchtime waitlists fill by 11:45, get on the Yelp queue from the car.
Shake Shack at New York-New York in Las Vegas is the Strip walk-up window where ShackBurger combos run $14 to $18 with crinkle fries and a concrete.
TryShackBurger $8, fries $4, shake $6
TipOutdoor corner window walks fastest after 21:00; SmokeShack with bacon is the upgrade, the Strip Concrete uses local mix-ins.
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